Edisi 02 April 2014 | International Bali Post

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

CBS TV comedy ‘How I Met Your Mother’ ends Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — In its 208th and final episode on Monday, the CBS TV comedy “How I Met Your Mother” finally revealed the mystery contained in its title and then ended with a twist designed to reward longtime fans.

Actor Josh Radnor’s character Ted meets the mom, played by actress Cristin Milioti, on a rainy train platform after his friends Barney and Robin are married.

But that marriage doesn’t last, and neither does Ted’s — because Milioti’s character Tracy dies after the couple has two children together. And at the end of the one-hour episode, the romance that seemed natural at the show’s beginning, between Ted and Robin, is rekindled.

Creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas say they knew the plot for the final episode when the series premiered nine years ago. Success kept them stringing along the story, even though part of Monday’s finale was filmed in 2006 for fear that the teen-aged actors who played Ted’s children would become unrecognizable.

The series has been a solid if not spectacular performer for CBS, and its average of 9.8 million viewers this season

means it will likely be its most-watched ever. It has never averaged below 8.25 million viewers in a season, the Nielsen company said, and its success in syndication means reruns will likely be seen for many years to come.

Most of the last season has been set in one weekend: Robin and Barney’s wedding, where Tracy was the bass player in the wedding band. The final episode skips through several years, where we learn that the marriage of Robin and Barney (played by Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris) splits up because of her success as a television correspondent.

Barney has a baby through a one-night stand and Marshall and Lily (played by Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan) have three kids and he becomes a judge.

Entertainment

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Russia hikes gas price for Ukraine

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Ted and Tracy get married after a long engagement and the kids, but she gets sick and dies, a development that many fans speculated upon in recent weeks because of a foreshadowing in an earlier episode. After that, Ted wraps up the story — how I met your mother — that he had been telling his children throughout the length of the show.

The children, however, tell him that it’s also a story about how he loves their Aunt Robin. They say his attraction to her is obvious and that he should ask her on a date. “C’mon, dad,” said the daughter, played by Lyndsy Fonseca. “Mom’s gone for six years now. It’s time.”

Neymar lighting up social media, not Barcelona

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Gunmen kill 1 Thai protesters, wound 4 in capital

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In this Saturday, March 1, 2014 photo, Josh Radnor arrives at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, in Santa Monica, Calif. In its 208th and final episode on Monday, March 31, 2014, the CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother” finally revealed the mystery contained in its title.

Springsteen among those to fete Rock Hall class Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Carrie Underwood, Chris Martin: The stars are turning out to salute the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

The hall of fame announced Tuesday that “The Boss” will fittingly induct and perform with his loyal E Street Band, while a superstar lineup of Nicks, Underwood, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow will perform for Linda Ronstadt. Glenn Frey will induct the singer.

Michael Stipe of R.E.M. will induct Nirvana, Coldplay’s Chris Martin will induct Peter Gabriel, Tom Morello handles those duties for KISS, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will induct fellow Philadelphians Hall and Oates. Inductees Daryl Hall and John Oates, Gabriel and Cat Stevens will perform during the April 10 ceremoJohn Minchillo/Invision/AP, file FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, musician Bruce Springsteen performs at the Stand ny, which will be broadcast Up for Heroes event at Madison Square Garden, in New York.

May 31 on HBO.

Bali quiet during Seclusion Day ANTARA FOTO/Wira Suryantala

A local security guard (pecalang) guarded at Ground Zero, Kuta, Bali Island during Seclusion Day. The tourist resort island of Bali has been quiet on Monday as the majority of the island’s Hindu population, around 3.8 million, observed Seclusion Day or “Nyepi” ahead of the Caka New Year of 1936.

Antara

DENPASAR - The tourist resort island of Bali has been quiet on Monday as the majority of the island’s Hindu population, around 3.8 million, observed Seclusion Day or “Nyepi” ahead of the Caka New Year of 1936.

The provincial capital city of Denpasar as well as tourist places and economic centers, which are usually marked by traffic jams, were deserted as all Hindus had stopped working, traveling, and indulging in all kinds of pleasures, by putting out lights and isolating themselves for introspection and

fasting.

The Monang-Maning housing complex in Denpasar where around 2.5 thousand families, from various ethnic backgrounds, are living was also quiet, reflecting the residents’ high tolerance.

The situation could also be seen across the island.

Foreign tourists meanwhile were allowed to stay only within their hotel compounds.

Due to the holy day, the island’s busy airport of Ngurah Rai and all entry gates, including seaports to the island, were closed.

Ngurah Rai airport co-general manager I Gusti Ngirah Ardita stated that due to the airport’s closure 400 flights including 152 overseas flights had been canceled.

Traditional security guards locally called “pecalang” meanwhile, have been deployed to

ensure security during the day and help in case of emergency.

The government has declared the day a national public holiday.

Election campaign rallies for the legislative elections on April 9, meanwhile have also been stopped across the country in observance of the day.

During Nyepi celebration, hundreds of ferries at six of Bali’s seaports that connect the tourist province with other regions in Indonesia and abroad not operated.

Similarly, at Benoa port, in Denpasar city, hundreds of fishing

boats are not being operated.

Thus, for 24 hours, all economic and trade activities as well as other activities totally abandoned when the Hindu followers observe the Hindu Day of Silence on Monday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, through his official twitter account @SBYudhoyono, conveyed his congratulatory message to those who celebrate Nyepi or the Hindu Day of Silence.

“I hope peace will always be upon us. Om Swastiastu,” declared the president on his account.

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International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Bali News

The struggle will never recede

IBP/file

Baleganjur music welcomes four Jalak activists

Preceded with purificatory rite on Mertasari Beach

AFTER the arrest suspension was granted by the Bali Police, the four Jalak Sidakarya activists namely Wayan Tirtayasa, I Wayan Saniyasa, I Wayan Adi Jayanatha and I Made Murdana went to Mertasari Beach to perform melukat or purificatory rite procession. The procession was expected to neutralize negative energy. After performing the ritual, they were straight heading to Sidakarya village. of Four Environmental Warriors Liberation Post, I Made Suardana.

After that, his party would wait for the case file that would be sent

by Bali Police investigator to the prosecutor office. The transfer of file especially related to forensic laboratory results was prone to be criminalized. “We will say to the prosecutor, one thing to be wary of is related to the results of forensic lab, which in our opinion, is prone to be criminalized. For example, by accusing our four friends who have made it because so far all of them have declared if they have never written it,” explained Suardana.

Meanwhile, the attorney of the four activists, Wayan ‘Gendo’

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

15

Brazilian Chef Adriano Ricco

The activists from Sidakarya pray in Candi Narmada Temple

Before returning to their homes on Friday (Mar 28), the four environmental warriors were dropped at village intersection.

Accompanied with baleganjur gamelan music, they walked to the Four Environmental Warriors Liberation Post at hamlet hall of Dukuh Mertajati. In the post, the family had been waiting the four people with a happy face. The happiness radiated as if answering their wait for some 20 days for the arrest suspension granted

by Bali Police.

“All residents gave support to continue the struggle for rejecting the Benoa Bay reclamation,” said Chairman

Activities

International

Suardana constantly hoped they would be protected by the constitution, Human Rights Act and Article 66 of the Law No.32/2009 on the Environmental Management and Protection. Moreover, Article 66 included the right of immunity or impunity for environmental warrior. “What’s interesting about this process is there are about 40 local and national organizations protested to Bali Police Chief and the National Police Chief. One of which is Kontras that uses international mechanisms to report the cases as harming human rights to Margaret Sekaggya as special rapporteur for the UN in the field of human rights,” he said. (kmb32)

“Once the sail spreads, it’s impossible to cancel.” This proverb is appropriate to describe the attitude of Jalak Sidakarya after their arrest suspension.

Nearly for a month, the four Jalak Sidakarya activists had been detained in Bali Police related to banners of blood thumbprint. I Wayan Tirtayasa should languished for 27 days, while three other colleagues such as I Wayan Saniyasa, I Wayan Adi Jayanatha and I Made Murdana had been detained for 23 days. During the period of suspension, they should not repeat any crime, should not escape, be willing to be present in the examination process any time and be cooperative. “The treatment of police officers to us is very good. In other words, we were treated like friends, without pressure, without discrimination and unlike prisoner,” said I Made Murdana.

This 25-year-old man admitted not to know who wrote ‘Cut the Head of Mangku P’ in the banner. “In our dossier we also described as such. In essence, we never write like what is being reported by the governor,” he said.

After the incident, Murdana admitted not to give up but still took lessons during his detention. Prison was considered a small stone that undermined their cause in rejecting reclamation. “Our struggle will never stop to reject the reclamation, especially for our beloved home village,” he added.

His colleague, I Wayan Saniyasa, stated the banner installation was pure aspiration of society. Mainly, it was intended that Governor and the House could see the direct aspiration of Sidakarya through blood thumbprint, signature and a statement rejecting the reclamation. “We have initiatives that the Governor and the House can see directly the aspirations of the Sidakarya community. We put up a banner in front of the governor’s office.

Previously, the banner was installed at Sidakarya for 10 days,” he said.

During the arrest, the four activists were flooded by support from various elements of society. They included local, national and even international institution having concern for the environment such as the Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), Friend of the Earth Indonesia (Walhi) along with 27 national organizations of Walhi in Indonesia, Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and Greenpeace Indonesia.

“We greatly appreciate the support because it is an encouragement for us. This support is also very important to us because it serves as a motivator to improve or re-create the same movement,” said I Wayan Adi Jayanatha. (kmb32)

Residents also shave bald

LEAVING fellow inmates who have been enjoying miseries together for 27 days is certainly not an easy thing. Similar condition was also felt by the four Jalak Sidakarya activists, Friday (Mar 28). After putting off yellow clothes (prisoner uniform) and folded them neatly, and then replaced it with another outfit that has been provided, they seemed touched. The atmosphere was apparent when they shook hands with the other prisoners who still inhabited the space behind the bars.

What happened in Bali Police was different from that at Sidakarya. On hearing the suspension of detention of their compatriots, the residents of Sidakarya were joyful. They were greeted with baleganjur gamelan. Not only that, last Friday a number of residents also took action by shaving bald their head as gratitude for this arrest suspension. At the evening, it was filled with dialogue in the post of Jalak Sidakarya. The four activists conveyed their experiences while in the detention room.

Previously, Spokesperson of Bali Police, Hariadi, said the suspension was granted based on the results of the investigation of the Directorate of General Crime of Bali Police. The investigators of the four activists judged they would not run away, not eliminate the evidence and not commit the same crime. “Seeing the filing has been completed, the investigator grants the suspension,” he said. (wan/nik/jay)

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Launches Hanging Gardens Ubud 2104 Guest Chef Series IBP

UBUD - Renowned Chef Adriano Ricco has worked in some of the world most famous kitchens, both in his native Brazil and New York City. He combines his passion for Latin cuisine with the quality of American bistros and the finesse of French cuisine Hanging Gardens Ubud is proud to announce its Guest Chef programme for 2014. This luxury boutique hotel, set in the stunning jungle landscape of Payangan, North of Ubud, is already a favourite of sophisticated gourmet travellers. Hanging Gardens has now handpicked selection of the world’s most established chefs to create their own gastronomic menus, drawing inspiration from their famous verdant tropical rainforest gardens.

Each chef will visit the hotel for a month and work closely with the hotel team of chefs, sharing recipes, learning and teaching new cooking techniques, taking part and giving cooking classes to

guests, creating lunch and dinner specials and designing and cooking a unique winepairing dinner, available to both guests and non-guests.

After the month’s culinary immersion, each chef will create his signature dish to be included in the hotel’s menu. Each chef will also become involved in the hotel’s annual local community programme. This year the focus is on helping the local village plant and grow its own organic produce.

World-renowned Chef Adriano Ricco will launch the new guest chef series, starting in April 2014 with a mouthwatering wine-pairing menu, utilising the skills honed from 18 years of cooking in

some of the world’s most famous kitchens in New York and his native Brazil, and combines his passion for Latin cooking with the quality of American bistro and the finesse of French cuisine.

Hanging Gardens Ubud is moving towards sustainability in the further development of cultivating organic produce around the estate. The hotel currently grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables such as mango, avocado, cacao, coffee, vanilla, mangosteens, star fruit and jackfruit, all of which are used in the kitchens and spa. Each guest chef will be invited to both add to and tend the gardens.

Calendar Event for March 5 through May 21, 2014 5 Mar Hari Urip 6 Mar Hari Patetegan 7 Mar Pengeradanan Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Kabayan Penebel Tabanan 8 Mar Saraswati Pura Pasek tangkas Gempinis Dalang Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Sayan Abiansemal Pura Watu Gunung Bima Pura Agung Jagat Karana Surabaya Pura Aditya Jaya Jakarta Pura Pemaksan Banyuning Timur Pura Agung Wira Loka Cimahi Jawa Barat 9 Mar Hari Banyu Pinaruh 10 Mar Soma Ribek Pura Jati Jembrana Pura Kawitan Bayu Gaiyang Bangli Tirta Wening Surabaya Pura Desa Lingga Wana Abang Karangasem 11 Mar Sabuh Mas 12 Mar Hari Pagerwesi Pura Labang Sindu JiwaUbud Pura Kehen Bangli Pura Wira Bhuana Magelang Jawa tengah Pura Padang Sakti Denpasar Timur Pura Payogan Agung Ketewel Gianyar Pura Gaduh Pangiasan Dauh Puri Denpasar Pura Masceti Tampak Siring Pura Dalem Ularan Denpasar Pura Siwa Penebel Tabanan Pura Luhur Sliki Banyuwangi Pura Gunung Lebah Ubud Pura Puseh Sukawati 15 Mar Purnama Sasih Kesanga Pura Nataran Sasih Pejeng Gianyar Pura Bukit Mentik Gunung lebah Batur Kintamani 17 Mar Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan 22 Mar Tumpek Landep Pura Mutering Jagat Dalem Sidakarya

Denpasar Pura Agung Pasek Tabanan Pura Pasek Tangkas Tabanan Pura Kerta Banyuning Buleleng Pura Dalem Tenggaling Singapadu Gianyar Pura Bhujangga Jembrana Pura Dalem pingit Tegalalang Pura Penataran Pande Pandean Mengwi Pura Ida Ratu Pande Besakih Pura Penataran AGung Tulikup Pura Kumuda Saraswati Ubud Pura Batur Arya Tabanan 23 Mar Radite Umanis Ukir Sanggah Gede Dukuh Segening Tegal Tugu Gianyar 26 Mar Buda Cemeng Ukir Pura Pajenengan Kawitan Arya Gelgel Kelungkung Pura Pasar Agung Besakih Pura Pasek Bendesa Legian Kuta Badung Pura Gde Gunung Agung Munggu Badung Pura Puseh Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Peruncak Badung Pura Pasek Bendesa Hyang Krobokan Badung Pura Kereban Langit Mengwi Badung 28 Mar Melasti Pakiyisan Ke Segara Pura Pasek Gelgel Kukuh Marga 30 Mar Tilem Kesanga Tawur Agung 31 Mar Hari Raya Nyepi 1 May Buda Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan

2 May Bhatara Sri Ida Ratu Geng Besakih Pura Penataran Agung Besakih Ida Ratu Raja Puraus Besakih Merajan Saloding Besakih 6 May Anggara Kasih Juluwangi Pura Thirta Harum Tegal Wangi Bangli Pura Baratan Baturiti Pura Batu Klotok Klungkung

Pura Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari Tabanan Pura Ibu Wanagiri Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Manik Bingin Dukuh Sidemen 7 May Pura Penataran Gana Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Gede Pande Bangli Pura Puncak Sari Sangeh Abian Semal Pura Puseh Penegil Dharma Kubu Tambahan Bangli Pura Dalem Maya Blahbatuh Gianyar Pura Linggih Betara Kayu Selem Penataran Agung Besakih 13 May Purnama Sasih Jiyestha Pura Dwija Warsa Malang Pura Pucak Tinggah Angsri Baturiti Pura Kawitan Luhur Bhujangga Jati Luwih Penebel Pura Kawitan Batur Pande Tonja Tonja Denpasar Pura Penataran Agung Sidemen Karangasem Pura Maospahit Grenceng Denpasar 15 May Sugihan Jawa Pura Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Tangkas Klungkung Pura Siang Kangin Peninjoan Tembuku Bangli Pura Ida Ratu Mas Penataran Agung Besakih Pura Ida Bhatara Bang Tulus Besakih 16 May Sugihan Bali Dan Kajeng Kliwon 18 May Penyekeban 19 May Penyajaan Galungan 20 May Penampahan Galungan 21 May Hari Raya Galungan Pura Wakika Kupang NTT Pura Agung Girinatha Sumbawa Besar NTB Pura Dukuh Sakti Dukuh Kediri Tabanan Pura Atambuananta Kutamba NTT Pura Webananta Kupang NTT Pura Giripati Mulawarman Pontianak Pura Mustika Dharma Cijantung Jakarta Timur

IBP/Courtesy of Hanging Gardens

Balinese Temple Ceremony Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Science

International

Global warming dials up our risks, UN report says Associated Press Writer

YOKOHAMA, Japan — If the world doesn’t cut pollution of heat-trapping gases, the already noticeable harms of global warming could spiral “out of control,” the head of a United Nations scientific panel warned Monday. And he’s not alone.

The Obama White House says it is taking this new report as a call for action, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying “the costs of inaction are catastrophic.”

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that issued the 32-volume, 2,610-page report here early Monday, told The Associated Press: “It is a call for action.” Without reductions in emissions, he said, impacts from warming “could get out of control.” One of the study’s authors, Maarten van Aalst, a top official at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said, “If we don’t reduce greenhouse gases soon, risks will get out of hand. And the risks have already risen.”

Twenty-first century disasters such as killer heat waves in Europe, wildfires in the United States, droughts in Australia and deadly flooding in Mozambique, Thailand and Pakistan highlight how vulnerable humanity is to extreme weather, according to the report from the Nobel Prize-winning group of scientists. The dangers are going to worsen as the climate changes even more, the report’s authors said.

“We’re now in an era where climate change isn’t some kind of future hypothetical,” said the overall lead author of the report, Chris Field of the Carnegie Institution for Science in California. “We live in an area where impacts from climate change are already widespread and consequential.” Nobody is immune, Pachauri and other scientists said.

“We’re all sitting ducks,” Princeton University professor Michael Oppenheimer, one of the main authors of the report, said in an interview.

After several days of late-night wrangling, more than 100 governments unanimously approved the scientist-written 49-page summary — which is aimed at world political leaders. The summary mentions the word “risk” an average of about 5 1/2 times per page. “Changes are occurring rapidly and they are sort of building up that risk,” Field said.

These risks are both big and small, according to the report. They are now and in the future. They hit farmers and big cities. Some places

AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan, File

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2014 file photo, children walk back home after school on a severely polluted day in Shijiazhuang, in northern China’s Hebei province. will have too much water, some not enough, including drinking water.

Other risks mentioned in the report involve the price and availability of food, and to a lesser and more qualified extent some diseases, financial costs and even world peace.

“Things are worse than we had predicted” in 2007, when the group of scientists last issued this type

of report, said report co-author Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development at the Independent University in Bangladesh. “We are going to see more and more impacts, faster and sooner than we had anticipated.”

The problems have gotten so bad that the panel had to add a new and

Bali News

International

GIPI deplores it without socialization Bali Post

DENPASAR - The Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) of Bali deplored the policy on the increase of passenger service charge (PJP2U) that was not accompanied by dissemination to airport users. This would raise questions among travelers and users of the air transport services, especially tourism actors. This statement was made by Chairman of the GIPI Bali, Ngurah Wijaya.

According to him, tourism practitioners just knew the increase in PJP2U or commonly known as airport tax at the Ngurah Rai Airport. “We just knew that there was an increase in airport tax. Ideally, any policy, especially regarding tourism, must be socialized to us long ago. So, the entrepreneurs could convey it to their guests,” he said.

He added the increase in passenger service charge would increase the burden of users of the air transport. This policy also applied at four airports, apart from the Ngurah Rai. The others were the Juanda International Airport (Surabaya), Sepinggan Interna-

tional Airport (Balikpapan), Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (Makassar) and Lombok Praya International Airport in force April 1. “Increased rates of up to IDR 75,000 to domestic passengers will surely be considered burdensome by the users, though not affecting the public interest to use this mode of transportation. Therefore, do not increase the rate only, while the service is still in shambles, causing disappointment,” he said.

He also asked the Angkasa Pura I to be transparent related to the problems faced. So, the Ngurah Rai Airport as a major gateway to Bali would not give a negative impression to travelers due to un-

satisfactory services.

Meanwhile, Co-GM of the Ngurah Rai International Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, said the tariff adjustment had been coordinated in advance and communicated with various parties. “Previously we have expressed this PJP2U tariff adjustment plan to the Ministry of Transportation in October 2013,” he said.

In addition to applying to the Ministry of Transportation, his party also coordinated and disseminated it to stakeholders such as the airlines, immigration, quarantine, customs and excise, INACA and business partners as well as to users of airport services which in

this case was represented by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

“The YLKI as representatives of consumers understands the steps of Angkasa Pura I that passenger service charge adjustment is defined as compensation of improving services at the airport,” he said.

PT Angkasa Pura had set a tariff adjustment for the overseas flight from IDR 150,000 to IDR 200,000, while for domestic flight from IDR 40,000 to IDR 75,000.

Improve services

Related to this increase, Wijaya asked the airport operator to show off excellent service as a form of compensation of rate increase in passenger service charge or known as the airport tax at the Ngurah Rai Airport. Moreover, the Ngurah Rai Airport was still under renovation, especially the domestic terminal, so there were many services that should be improved.

AP Photo/Kyodo News

In this Jan. 28, 2014 photo, Japanese government-funded laboratory Riken Center for Development Biology researcher Haruko Obokata, the lead author of a widely heralded stem-cell research paper, speaks about her research results on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells during a press conference in Kobe, western Japan.

TOKYO — Data in a widely heralded stem-cell research paper was falsified, a Japanese government-funded laboratory said Tuesday, as the lead researcher accused of the malpractice denied any wrongdoing. The research from the Riken Center for Development Biology in Kobe, western Japan, had been hailed as a possible breakthrough for growing tissue to treat illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease using a simple lab procedure.

But significant discrepancies in research published in January in scientific journal Nature led a panel of scientists at Riken to conclude they stemmed from falsified data.

They said researcher Haruko Obokata, the lead author of the paper in Nature, had manipulated or falsified images of DNA fragments used in the research.

“The investigation committee has concluded that Ms. Obokata is responsible for manipulation and therefore for research malpractice,” said Shunsuke Ishii, the Riken scientist who led the committee charged with investigating allegations the work was falsified. Obokata vehemently objected to the

Similar opinion was delivered by Deputy Chairman of the GIPI Bali, Bagus Sudibya. He judged the rate increase should be poised with an increase in services. Moreover, the Ngurah Rai Airport was the first guard to give a positive image in the eyes of travelers who made a visit.

“There should be compensation when the tariff is increased, such as with enhanced customer service. All this time I still see inconveniences perceived by the airport users,” he said.

He pointed out that some devices had not been operated. One of them was the international arrival gate where it was only equipped with one security checkpoint.

Actually, when several aircrafts arrived simultaneously, it would lead to long line of passengers. “It also includes some confusing instructions. Airport as a gateway to Bali is necessary to get the attention of all parties,” he said. (kmb27)

Plaited craft exports down

dangerous level of risks. In 2007, the biggest risk level in one key summary graphic was “high” and colored blazing red. The latest report adds a new level, “very high,” and colors it deep purple. You might as well call it a “horrible” risk level, said van Aalst: “The horrible is something quite likely, and we won’t be able to do anything about it.”

committee’s findings.

“I was outraged and shocked by the committee’s report,” she said in a statement. “I cannot accept the finding, and I intend to make an appeal to Riken in coming days.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made greater gender equality and female advancement in the workforce a plank of his economic revival strategy for Japan. But the recognition of Obokata, a fashionable young woman, as a leading scientist still made waves in conservative, male-dominated Japan.

The dispute over the research is also a setback for government efforts to market Japan’s research and development expertise as a 21st century industry needed to revitalize the country’s manufacturing. Juliette Savin, a spokeswoman for Riken, said that she could not comment on Obokata’s employment status.

In a news conference, Riken’s director Ryoji Noyori said that after allowing for an appeal, disciplinary action would be taken, including calling for retraction of the suspect paper. “Research misconduct occurred due to a young researcher’s lack of experience and awareness of the importance of research ethics,” Noyori said.

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Increase in airport tax

Antara

Japan lab says stem cell research falsified Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati

An Indonesian man walks near an abandoned Boeing 737-400 in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. An Indonesian businessman is planning to redevelop the old Boeing 737 into an aviation-cinema and restaurant.

DENPASAR - The Indonesian tourist resort province of Bali earned US$1.06 million from its bamboo-based plaited product exports in 2013, down 49.08 percent from US$2.08 million in the previous year.

The plaited product exports also dropped 52.35 percent in term of volume from 3.2 million units in 2012 to 1.44 units in 2013, Chief Spokesman of Bali’s Regional Government I Ketut Teneng, said.

He said that the conditions of the global market which had not yet fully recovered had caused the drop of Bali’s plaited craft exports.

Despite unfavorable global market conditions, Bali’s handicraftsmen continued with their activities to produce bamboo-based products to meet domestic and foreign tourists’ need for various souvenirs, Teneng said.

In the mean time, Bali’s tuna exports also dropped 7.75 percent in value to US$76.80 million in 2013 from US$83.25 million in the previous year.

“The export volume, however, rose 14.62 percent to 16,337 tons from 14,254 tons in 2012,” he said.

He said frozen and fresh tuna fish dominated Bali’s exports of 11 types of maritime commodities.

Tuna fish contributed 15.80 percent to Bali’s total export earning of US$486.06 million in 2013, he said.

He said exports of fishery and maritime commodities were valued at US$114.8 million in 2013, down slightly from US$114.89 million in 2012.

He said hundreds of fishing vessels unload their catches of tuna every day at Benoa port to be exported after the process of cleaning.

The fish is exported mainly to Japan 41.04 percent, the United States 15.90 percent, Singapore 2.48 percent and Australia 8.93 percent, he said.

Smaller parts are also exported to other countries such as Britain, Hong Kong, Italy and Spain, France and the Netherlands.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Bali News

International

International

Dispose of materials into the sea

Buleleng House asks Celukan Bawang power plant project stop Bali Post

Nyoman Sukrawan, accompanied

by Chairman of Commission B Putu Mangku Budiasa and members.

In the meeting, Chairman of the House, Dewa Nyoman Sukrawan, said that PT GEB had committed an offense in the process of construction of the Celukan Bawang power plant. For violations, the House ordered the executive to stop the sea excavation and construction of the building without permission that violated the coastal borderline. Decision for the suspension of work on the power plant was valid until PT GEB with the contractor completed the necessary permissions.

“We ask the building project and marine excavation made without permission to be stopped first until PT GEB and its contractor submit the permission. We will continue to guard this issue and do not mess around when investing in Buleleng. Please follow the rules of the game and do not go around,” he said.

A similar opinion was expressed

by Chairman of Commission B of Buleleng House, Putu Mangku Budiasa. He said the results of coastal excavation disposed into the sea caused pollution of the marine environment at Celukan Bawang. Condition of coral reefs and marine life at the location were ascertained to be

RLD

Gunmen kill 1 Thai protesters, wound 4 in capital Associated Press Writer

The Celukan Bawang power plant project in Buleleng Regency

damaged and the sea polluted by the excavated materials disposed by the contractor. The rude behavior went up against the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) permit that had been issued by the government and violating the Law on Environment.

In addition, the establishment of building on the shoreline had not been completed the permit so far, while the building had been accomplished. More seriously, the building broke the rules of coastal borderline set forth in the Regional Bylaw on

Spatial Plan of Bali Province. “PT GEB and CHEC are violating three rules at once and this is the basis for us to instruct the executive to discontinue the construction on the edge of the beach and sea excavation which is clearly damaging to the environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the representative of PT GEB when responding to accusations of the House had admitted that it had warned the contractor CHEC to stop the construction because the permission had not been issued. How-

IBP/File

ever, the warning was not heeded by the CHEC and kept doing the work.

Against the allegation, the contractor CHEC even blamed back PT GEB that did not submit the permissions. CHEC as a power plant contractor stated that all licensing procedures were the responsibility of PT GEB. “The matter of permit is the whole responsibility of PT GEB, while we as contractor only work on what already exists in the design. Then, about suspension of work, please ask to PT GEB,” said Yohanes, representative of CHEC. (mud)

The website for Erawan emergency services said three men and two women were shot and one of the men died at a hospital.

The women were on a bus and the men were guards for the protesters who were on a sound truck, said Nasser Yeemah, who heads the self-described guards for the Student and People’s Network for the Reform of Thailand protest group.

He said he suspected the shots were fired from a tall building alongside the expressway where the vehicles were travelling.

The student network is a militant faction of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, which has been seeking to have Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign to make

way for an interim appointed government to initiate anti-corruption reforms.

Police Maj. Gen. Anucha Romyanan confirmed the circumstances of the shooting and said it was not immediately known what type of weapon was used. Protestrelated violence has left 24 dead and hundreds hurt since November.

Thai anti-government protesters sit and rest on the lawn inside the compound of prime minister’s office of government house during a rally in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, March 29, 2014.

AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn

Mudslide missing drops to 22; 24 confirmed dead Associated Press Writer

Reduce import

Increase productivity, strengthen farmers cooperative Bali Post

DENPASAR - High import of food products should be able to be suppressed by increasing productivity and strengthening farming cooperative institutions. Other than reducing the dependence on imports, these aspects can also expand employment. It was revealed by I Putu Sudiarta, PhD., an agricultural practitioner.

According to him, the import was done if it was in very urgent condition or impossible to be produced. However, Indonesia was the opposite. Imported products were

very high, while Indonesia had the potential of abundant natural resources. “This country is funny.

The salt is imported whereas the country is surrounded by sea. When managed well, it’s no need to import,” firmly Sudiarta.

Farming in Indonesia, including Bali, said the lecturer of Agriculture in the Udayana University, mostly had not run as expected. According to him, the idea of farming was indeed good but had not been poised with good ability, especially the effective management system. “I think the stakeholders are still not serious, including the government and farm-

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BANGKOK — Gunmen killed one person and wounded four Tuesday, in another attack on anti-government protesters in Thailand’s long political crisis, authorities said. The shots were fired in midafternoon at a bus and a flatbed truck carrying demonstrators to their encampment in central Bangkok after they had protested at a complex of government offices just north of the city.

BULELENG - A number of issues still impede the process of coalfueled power plant megaproject at Celukan Bawang village, Gerokgak. The contractor digs the shoreline in the project core location for the installation of pipes under the sea. Unfortunately, the dredging materials are dumped into the sea. In addition, one of the buildings in the core location has not owned a permit and breaks the rules of coastal borderline.

Information collected in the field mentioned if the contractor China Hudian Engineering Corporation (CHEC) had made excavation on the shoreline to the middle of the ocean along 600 meters within the past month. As planned, after the excavation it would install a giant pipe. This giant pipe functioned to drain the sea water as a coolant. Unfortunately, the results of excavation materials were even dumped into the sea. Of course, the excavation activity was known by law enforcement officials as well as the Buleleng House. Even, the House and police officers had come down to location and found the digging activity and the materials were dumped into the sea.

Other than excavating the sea, the contractor was also making a building in the core location of the mega project that had not had a Building Permit (IMB) issued by the Office of Integrated Services (KPT) of Buleleng. Even, the permanent building clearly violated the provisions of the coastal borderline set forth in Regional Bylaw on Spatial Plan of Bali. The owner of the new mega power plant permit, PT General Energy Bali (GEB) with contractor were summoned to attend a hearing in the parliamentary house led by the Chairman of the House, Dewa

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

ers. If farming is strong, I’m sure we do not lack food,” he said.

Secretary of the Indonesia Farmers Union (HKTI) of Badung, Ketut Sugiana, said the rural cooperatives (KUD) in the New Order period was indeed established for the benefit of the majority of farmers. However, most of the cooperatives in Bali did not match the expectations in the progress. “Strengthening the cooperative institutions in the field of farming is very important. This institution is supposed to be the government’s attention in order to strengthen the farmers’ bargaining position with the parties who have

an interest in the agricultural products and agricultural activity itself,” he added.

In addition, according to Sugiana, the government needed to establish a Farmers Bank. The bank would work together with farming cooperatives spreading across Bali.

It was a banking institution that had specialized activities in financial management of farmers’ capital.

In the implementation, it still referred to the Act on the banking, but there was specific treatment in the distribution of capital to farmers. Later, farmers would have easy access to capital. “Special treatment

can be in the form of interest rates, credit administration and fund collection system of farmers. By strengthening the farming capital means to cope with crop failure and debt bondage system,” he said.

Sugiana added that Farmers Bank could serve as a holding company for financial institution such as cooperatives and farming cooperatives. Additionally, it could become foster father of farming cooperative.

“A lot of things can be done to save the farming in Bali provided that there should be seriousness of the government, farmers and stakeholders,” said Sugiana. (rah)

AP Photo/The Herald, Sofia Jaramillo, Pool

An American flag hangs from the only cedar post left standing at the scene of a deadly mudslide, Monday, March 31, 2014, in Oso, Wash.

DARRINGTON, Washington — Authorities in Washington state said they believe 22 people are still missing in the deadly mudslide that has killed at least 24 people. That is down from the 30 people they previously considered missing. The Snohomish County medical examiner’s office said it has positively identified 18 of the 24 victims in the official death toll.

Snohomish County Executive Director Gary Haakenson says the remains of three additional victims were found Monday, but they have not yet been included in the medical examiner’s official numbers. The slide struck a rural area northeast of Seattle on March 22.

Steve Harris, a division supervisor for the search effort, said search teams are learning more about the force of the March 22 slide, and that is helping them better locate victims in a debris field that is 70 feet (21 meters) deep in places. “There’s a tremendous amount of force and energy behind this,” Harris said of the slide. He didn’t provide further details.

Harris said search dogs are the primary tool for finding remains in the small, mountainside community about 55 miles (88 kilometers) northeast of Seattle. He said searchers are finding human remains four to six times per day. Sometimes crews only find partial remains, which makes the identification process harder. A makeshift road completed over the weekend links one side of the 300-acre (122-hectare) debris field to the other.

Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including household chemicals, septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday asked President Barack Obama for a major disaster declaration in Snohomish County to make programs available to help individuals, households and businesses.

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International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

BUSINESS

Agence France-Presse

Shoppers gather at a discount shop in Tokyo, Sunday, March 30, 2014. Prices rose across Japan Tuesday as a controversial sales tax rise came into effect, with everything from beer to washing machines costing more, sparking fears a drop in consumer spending will derail a nascent economic recovery.

Sales tax rise in 17 years

Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - Prices rose across Japan Tuesday as a controversial sales tax rise came into effect, with everything from beer to washing machines costing more, sparking fears a drop in consumer spending will derail a nascent economic recovery. the higher prices was 18-yearold university student Hibiki Ishida, who was not impressed when he bought his favourite chewing gum on Tuesday.

“I get this gum every morning and I know the price is 120 yen ($1.15),” he said.

“But I handed 120 yen to the shop clerk today and she told me it was now 123 yen -- that unnerved me.”

Others, like a 20-year-old graduate surnamed Yoshida -- who is set to start a new job and live on her own -- have been planning for the hike, with some help.

“My mother has given me lots of daily stuff like tissue paper and plastic cling wrap,” she said.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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In Buleleng

Twitter expands ‘social TV’ efforts, buys two firms

Tokyo hiked the levy to 8.0 percent from 5.0 percent as it looks to control a public debt mountain, but corporate Japan’s concerns were highlighted by a closely watched survey of business sentiment showing bosses are cautious about the future.

In a country beset by years of deflation, critics warn that already thrifty shoppers would snap their wallets shut, and millions of shoppers made a last-minute dash to stores in recent weeks.

The last time Japan rolled out a higher sales levy, in 1997, it was followed by years of deflation and tepid growth that defined the country’s protracted slump.

Among those waking up to

Bali News

International

“So I can survive for the time being.”

The rise has presented a huge challenge for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since he swept to power in late 2012 on a ticket to drag the world’s number-three economy out of a cycle of falling prices and tepid growth.

On Tuesday, defending the rise -- which could be followed by another, to 10 percent -- Abe pointed to spiralling healthcare and social welfare costs, which are straining the public purse in a rapidly ageing society.

The rise “is meant to offset increases in social security costs over the years and to maintain the country’s trust”, he told reporters, adding that the battle to defeat years of growth-sapping

deflation would continue.

But a Kyodo news agency poll earlier this year said about three quarters of Japanese were feeling no impact from the premier’s growth efforts, which included an unprecedented monetary easy programme by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) that helped sharply weaken the yen and boost company profits.

Retailers are launching special deals to keep customer traffic steady, such as offering more points on shopping cards or promising a boost to the quality -- and in some cases, volume -- of their pricier products.

“There is a risk that my sales will drop,” said Masayuki Komatsubara, who runs a small Tokyo shop that sells seaweed and other dried food products.

O n Tu e s d a y, a c l o s e l y watched BoJ survey showed that business confidence soared to a more than six-year high in the January-March quarter.

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter said Monday it was expanding its “social TV” efforts with new global partnerships, as it struck deals to acquire companies in Britain and France.

The social TV firms SecondSync in Britain and Mesagraph in France announced separately they were joining Twitter. Terms of the deals were not announced.

The deals came as Twitter announced an expanded effort to be the “second screen” for TV viewers in countries around the world.

“Each day, Twitter users share the experience of watching television with friends and fans around the world,” Twitter’s Jana Messerschmidt said in a blog post.

“Today, we’re pleased to announce that we will bring Twitter TV measurement to even more regions of the world through an expanded partnership with Kantar.”

The agreement goes beyond Britain and Spain to the Nordics, Russia, parts of Africa and southeast Asia, the blog said.

“In addition to expanding our partnership into new regions, we’ll also work with Kantar on a program called ‘Data of Now’ that will apply Twitter’s public, real-time data to new research products in advertising effectiveness, consumer insight, brand equity and media measurement,” Messerschmidt said.

Twitter also expanded a deal with ratings firm Nielsen to measure social engagement in Italy and Australia and is working with partners on this in Japan, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

“These initiatives reflect the strength of our commitment to the social TV market,” she said.

Mesagraph announced on its website, “Today marks a new step for Social TV in Europe and for Mesagraph! We are really excited to announce that we’re joining Twitter!” SecondSync made a similar announcement.

“We are very proud of the business we have built up over the last three years,” the British firm said.

“Twitter is the only place that hosts a real-time, public conversation about TV at scale. By joining Twitter, we will be able to help take that experience, in concert with the rest of the TV ecosystem, to the next level -- particularly in markets outside the United States. Our current UK product will continue to be available for an interim period.”

Handicraft sector management hampered by marketing Bali Post

SINGARAJA - The artisans in Buleleng apparently remain to face serious obstacles in developing their businesses. One of the unresolved obstacles so far is the weak marketing of various types of native handicraft products of Buleleng. It was expressed by the family welfare movement or PKK Team Leader of Buleleng, Mrs. Aries Suradnyana, accompanied by the Secretary Mrs. Janati Sutrisna when receiving an audience of Bisnis Bali newspaper (a member of Bali Post Media Group-KMB) led by Ni Nengah Srianti in the Secretariat of PKK Buleleng, Friday (Mar 28).

Furthermore, Aries Suradnyana said that many villages had been known as producer of art objects spreading across multiple subdistricts. The resulting products consisted of bamboo plait, silver, glass puppets, weaving songket and various other art products.

These craft products, she added, in terms of quality and unique characteristic, were not easily found in other areas of Bali. “Of course, this condition is an advantage that can grab a larger market share and compete against the products of art objects from other areas in South Bali,” she said.

However, such a great potential and advantages seemed to have not been managed optimally, especially in terms of marketing. Even, some craftsmen currently only relied on the orders from buyers for their production. “Indeed, we have many potential craftsmen. In terms of qual-

ity and characteristics, they do not exist in other areas. Unfortunately, so far the artisans are still weak in marketing their products, so it seems unable to compete against artisans in South Bali,” she explained.

Addressing these issues, the Buleleng government through the PKK Team Leader was trying to facilitate the artisans to improve their market access by increasing promotion through exhibitions inside and outside the region. The PKK Team Leader planned to teach the artisans and other SMEs to take advantage of marketing by information technology (IT).

Marketing with e-commerce base was considered quite possible to improve the market access for the original handmade products of Buleleng. Moreover, the fairly rapid development of IT these days was very helpful in marketing a product compared to other ways.

To that end, the PKK Team

IBP/File Photo

The artisans in Buleleng apparently remain to face serious obstacles in developing their businesses. One of the unresolved obstacles so far is the weak marketing of various types of native handicraft products of Buleleng.

Leader planned to hold a workshop on Business Online in April 2014. This effort would be held in collaboration with the Bisnis Bali newspaper to teach the artisans, PKK cadres in Buleleng, pupils and

students in Buleleng on the techniques and tips of online business marketing products. “Incidentally, we work closely with the Bisnis Bali. We strongly support this effort because it poses at least a first step

in providing insight for the artisans, PKK cadres and students to use information technology in marketing the SMEs products, so it will be better known and more profitable,” she added. (mud)

Bali Post

in Jembrana subdistrict the Hindus were concentrated on Yeh Kuning Beach. Meanwhile, in the Negara subdistrict the activities were focused on Pengambengan Beach and Melaya subdistrict on Candikusuma Beach and Gilimanuk.

Hundreds of sanctified effigies were carried to Segara Temple located on the beach. Many people walked away and followed the convoy of people. On Candikusuma Beach, the melasti implementation was accompanied with trance. Dozens of people mostly teenagers of both sexes presented pendet dance were falling into trance. Implementation in the Segara Temple of Pengambengan also took place solemnly. Dozens of sanctified effigies from various temples and clan temples were accompanied by thousands of people. (kmb26)

Thousands of pilgrims in Jembrana throng 13 melasti destinations NEGARA - Thousands of Hindu pilgrims in Jembrana thronged the beach on Friday (Mar 28) to perform melasti or purificatory rite ahead of Nyepi Çaka Year 1936.

Hundreds of sanctified effigies and images were taken down to the sea in Jembrana to get a splash of holy water. The holy water was believed to increase the sanctity of their sanctified effigies.

Implementation of the melasti in Jembrana was almost held simultaneously in 13 coastal locations, starting from the Pekutatan with five points such as Pangyangan Beach, Gumbrih, Pangkung Jukung, Kerta Laksana and Yeh Leh Pengeragoan. Then, in the Mendoyo subdistrict was concentrated on Yeh Sumbul Beach, Rambutsiwi, Tembles and Delodbrawah, while IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Thousands of Hindu pilgrims in Jembrana thronged the beach on Friday (Mar 28) to perform melasti or purificatory rite ahead of Nyepi Çaka Year 1936.

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International

3 dead, 2 missing in boat collision in Spain Associated Press Writer

MADRID — Spain’s Marine Rescue Service says at least three fishermen have died and two are missing after their boat collided with a cargo vessel in a northwestern inlet.

A spokeswoman said five other crew members of the Spanish fishing boat had been rescued.

There were no immediate details on the cause of Tuesday’s collision with the Singapore-flagged vehicle carrier, Baltic Breeze, in the inlet of Vigo. The nationalities of the three dead were not disclosed.

The official was speaking on condition of anonymity as she is not authorized to be identified publicly as the service’s spokesperson.

Australia to deploy flying air traffic controller Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

Self-Defense activists pass by the Dnipro Hotel in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. A tense standoff between Ukrainian police and a radical nationalist group Right Sector ended Tuesday, when its members surrendered their weapons and left a downtown hotel.

Russia hikes gas price for Ukraine Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW — Russia on Tuesday sharply hiked the price for natural gas to Ukraine and threatened to reclaim billions previous discounts, raising the heat on its cash-strapped government, while Ukrainian police moved to disarm members of a radical nationalist group after a shooting spree in the capital. Alexei Miller, the head of Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom natural gas giant, said Tuesday that the company has withdrawn December’s discount that put the price of gas at $268.50 per 1,000 cubic meters and set the price at $385.50 per 1,000 cubic meters for the second quarter.

The discount was part of a financial lifeline which Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, after his decision to ditch a pact with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Moscow.

The move fueled three months of protests which led Yanukovych to flee to Russia in February.

Radical nationalist groups played a key role in Yanukovych’s ouster, but they quickly fell out with the new government. Many activists are still encamped on Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan, and have signaled their intent to remain there until the election of what they deem to be a legitimate government.

Last week, one of the leaders of

the most prominent radical group, the Right Sector, was shot dead while resisting police. Right Sector members then besieged parliament for several hours, breaking windows and demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. They lifted the blockade after lawmakers set up a panel to investigate the killing.

Late Monday, a Right Sector member shot and wounded three people outside a restaurant adjacent to Kiev’s main Independence Square, including a deputy city mayor, triggering a standoff that lasted overnight.

Police responded by surrounding the downtown Dnipro Hotel, which Right Sector had commandeered as its headquarters, demanding that

the radicals lay down their weapons and leave. Avakov said that Right Sector members got into buses Tuesday morning leaving their weapons behind and headed to a suburban camp under the escort of officers of Ukraine’s Security Service.

The Ukrainian parliament then voted to order police to disarm all illegal armed units. Backers of the measure said the drive was needed to combat a recent surge in violent crime and to defuse the risk of provocations by “foreign citizens” in Kiev and the south and east of Ukraine, heavily Russian-speaking regions where anti-government groups have rallied over the past several weekends in calls for secession.

PERTH, Australia — Australia deployed Tuesday an airborne traffic controller over the Indian Ocean to prevent a mid-air collision among the many aircraft searching for the Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went missing over three weeks ago.

An air force E-7A Wedgetail equipped with advanced radar “is on its first operational” task in the search area in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a tweet. Earlier, Angus Houston, who heads the joint agency coordinating the multinational search effort, said the modified Boeing 737 will monitor the increasingly crowded skies over the remote search zone.

The three-week hunt for Flight 370 has turned up no sign of the Boeing 777, which vanished March 8 with 239 people on board bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia has been criticized for its handling of the search, particularly its communications to the media and families of the passengers. In something likely to fuel those concerns, the government changed its account of the final voice transmission from the cockpit.

In a statement late Monday, it said the final words received by ground controllers at 1:19 a.m. on March 8 were “Good night Malaysian threeseven-zero.” Earlier the government said the final words were “All right, good night.”

The statement didn’t explain the discrepancy or the significance of the slightly different sentences. The statement also said investigators were still trying to determine whether the pilot or co-pilot spoke the words.

At a news conference in Perth, Houston, the former Australian defense chief, called the search effort the most challenging one he has ever seen.

The starting point for any search is the last known position of the vehicle or aircraft, he said. “In this particular case, the last known position was a long, long way from where the aircraft appears to have gone,” he said. “It’s very complex, it’s very demanding.”

“What we really need now is to find debris, wreckage from the aircraft,” he said. “This could drag on for a long time.”

The search zone area has shifted as experts analyzed Flight 370’s limited radar and satellite data, moving from the seas off Vietnam to the waters west of Malaysia and Indonesia, and then to several areas west of Australia. The current search zone is a remote 254,000 square kilometer (98,000 square mile) that is a roughly 2 ½-hour flight from Perth.

AP Photo/Rob Griffith

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion’s co-pilot and Squadron Leader Brett McKenzie controls the pane while searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean, Monday, March 31, 2014.

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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INDONESIA President denies using state facilities for campaign

Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denies the allegation of using the state’s presidential facilities for the campaign of his Democratic Party (PD).

“I did not use the presidential facilities in any of my campaign,” the president clarified in his office, Jakarta, Tuesday.

President Yudhoyono stated that he has been orderly in carrying out the political campaigning regulations related to the use of state presidential facilities.

Therefore, the president will ask an authorized auditing institution to audit the campaign budget in order to fix the allegation that has been circulating among the citizen.

The president also asks all parties to obey the laws in determining the use of state facilities for official and personal use.

Earlier, the Election Supervisory Board planned to call the Democratic Party and Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi related to the campaign of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as chairman of the party, noted Nelson Simanjuntak, member of the election board.

“We plan to summon the Democrats party related to their campaign, then maybe the state secretary, as an institution that arranges of the presidential trip,” Nelson asserted when met at his office in Jakarta, Friday, March 23.

Nelson added that the election board had received complaints alleging campaign violations by state officials who use state -owned facilities.

Following the allegations, Minister and the State Secretary Sudi Silalahi made a statement denying the allegations on the President’s campaign, in Jakarta, Friday, March 28.

Sudi stressed that he had been compelled to issue a clarification in view of a number of news reports alleging that the President’s campaign breached the election law as he was using the state budget for it.

He claimed the news reports were not true because the President had not used state money for the campaign or for any other unlawful activities.

AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi

Indonesian Hindus take part in a ritual ceremony “Tawur Agung Kesanga,” or Great Purification Ceremony, held to welcome Nyepi, the annual day of silence, during which Balinese Hindus welcome in the New Year Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Prambanan Temple, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Three shot dead in Aceh ahead of elections Islamic parties head for poll drubbing Agence France-Presse

BANDAACEH - Gunmen riding a motorcycle have shot dead three people including a toddler in Indonesia’s Aceh, police said Tuesday, the latest violence in the western province before legislative elections next week.

The victims were killed late Monday when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on a small van decorated with pictures of election candidates from the Aceh Party, which dominates local politics.

Police said it was not clear who the gunmen were although there has been an upsurge in politically-linked attacks ahead of the April 9 polls.

The violence highlighted that security remains fragile in Aceh, on the northernmost tip of Sumatra island, almost a decade after a peace deal ended a 30-year separatist insurgency in the province that left some 25,000 people dead.

“The gunmen were believed to have been following the minivan -- which was carrying 12 people, including two toddlers -- and fired shots from behind, hitting four people,” said Ali Khadafi, police chief of Bireuen district, where the attack took place.

The driver rushed the passengers to a local health centre, but the 18-monthold boy, a man and a woman were dead on arrival, Khadafi said.

A 35-year-old man remains in critical condition, he added.

There have been spate of shootings, grenade attacks and assaults in Aceh in recent weeks, as parties campaign ahead of the elections.

Bloody violence also hit Aceh ahead of the 2012 governor elections and the 2009 legislative polls.

NGOs have accused the Aceh Party -- formed by former rebel fighters -- of carrying out the bulk of attacks on opposition members and supporters.

The elections, which are held every five years, will see 15 parties compete for some 20,000 seats in legislatures at the national, provincial and district level.

Under special autonomy granted by the peace deal, Aceh is Indonesia’s only province that can field candidates from its local parties against those from national parties at the elections.

However it cannot compete for seats in the national parliament, only local legislatures.

Aceh is also the only province in Indonesia with Islamic sharia law.

Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Nisa Ariyani staunchly supported Indonesia’s Muslim parties her whole life, throughout decades of authoritarian rule and at the three legislative elections after the country became democratic.

But when tens of millions vote in parliamentary polls in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country on April 9, the 42-year-old teacher is set to join a growing number who will not cast their ballot for an Islamic party.

Indonesia’s five main Muslim parties are heading for their worst ever showing at the elections, hit by explosive scandals and a growing trend among voters not to pick parties purely on religious grounds.

“I have lost my faith in Islamic parties, and I will vote for nobody,” said Ariyani, who lives in the capital Jakarta and has worn a headscarf all her life, even during the long rule of dictator Suharto when it was uncommon in Indonesia.

Her change of heart is due to a specific case -- a sordid scandal involving clandestine hotel room sex and huge kickbacks that rocked the party she

had supported at previous elections, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Before supporting the PKS, Indonesia’s biggest Islamic party, she backed the United Development Party, one of the few opposition groups allowed by Suharto and still around now.

The decline in support for Muslim parties -- which range from moderate groups to more extreme ones that want to introduce Islamic sharia law -- since the end of authoritarian rule in 1998 seems at first glance a paradox, analysts say.

Since the downfall of Suharto, who backed a secular state and was against the strong influence of Islam in public life, Indonesia has appeared to have become more Islamic, not less.

An increasing number of women wear the headscarf, Islam-influenced goods -- from fashion brands to apps that remind you when to pray -- are all the rage, while some people have even chosen to live in strict Islamic communities, rejecting the trappings of modern life.

The tumultuous years following the end of Suharto’s regime were also accompanied by an upsurge in Islamic extremism, notably the 2002 Bali bombings, in which 202 people

-- mostly foreign tourists -- were killed.

A crackdown over the past decade has weakened the most dangerous groups but Islamic extremists still regularly target domestic security forces.

Despite this, the country’s five main Islamic parties -- among 12 running in the parliamentary elections -- have seen their popularity slide in the sprawling archipelago nation where more than 90 percent of the population is Muslim.

Their combined share of the vote fell to around 26 percent at the 2009 legislative polls from around 34 percent a decade earlier.

Dodi Ambardi, a director at the Indonesian Survey Institute, predicts their support will fall to only 15 percent in the coming elections, particularly due to a drop for the PKS, which won almost eight percent in 2009.

No Islamic party is expected to do well enough to put a candidate forward for the presidential polls in July. A party or coalition of parties must win 20 percent of the seats in parliament or 25 percent of the national vote at the April elections to do so.

10

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Destination

International

Labuan Sait Beach IBP

BADUNG - Labuan Sait beach is more known as PadangPadang Beach. It is located in north part of Badung Regency.

The access to this clean beach has been good where it can be reached by car and motorcycle.

The tourist can pass Uluwatu Street until find the sign Labuan Sait Beach. The distance from capital city Denpasar is about 32 km or 60 minutes.

This beach is very unique and different with others. When entering this beach the tourists will get into cave from big coral reef. There are also many big rock and coral towering high along the coast. This wonderful view attracts the tourist to feel natural nuance in this paradise island. Moreover, in the afternoon, the sunset that lights the white sand and wave make the scenery really marvelous.

For the beach lover, this beach should be visited. The tourists that mostly come from Australia, Chinese, Javanese and Austria, can do some interesting activities like sun-bathing recreation, relaxation and swimming. Around the area, there are some souvenir seller that sell hut, dress and many others.

In addition, there are also the rental canoes and bodyboards and surfing boards.

Sports

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

7

Spurs’ streak hits 18 with 103-77 win at Indiana Associated Press Writer

INDIANAPOLIS — Gregg Popovich may be the only guy who can stop the San Antonio Spurs right now. If the Spurs coach had his way, this franchise-record winning streak would probably already be over.

His players don’t see it quite the same way. Tony Parker scored 22 points, Boris Diaw added 14 and the Spurs earned their 18th consecutive NBA win by handing the Indiana Pacers their worst home loss of the season, 103-77, on Monday.

“We just wanted to continue to do what we’ve been doing, which is push the ball and play at a high pace and share the ball,” Parker said. “It’s nice to have the record in San Antonio, but it still doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win it all.” A year ago, the Spurs fell short in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Miami.

This year, San Antonio seems to be surging at just the right time. The Spurs, with a 58-16 record, haven’t lost since Feb. 21 at Phoenix and surpassed their previous best run on the 18th anniversary of their only other 17-game winning streak

by beating the NBA’s best home team on its own court. If Popovich had his way, this talk would likely be over.

His players don’t believe their coach will allow the streak to continue much longer, especially if the Spurs can clinch the NBA’s best record with games to spare. They lead Oklahoma City by 3½ games in the Western Conference and have six more wins than the Pacers and seven more than the Heat with eight to play.

“I think he’ll be happy if we lose anytime soon,” Parker said, laughing before explaining that Popovich

Hingis wins 1st doubles title since 2007 Associated Press Writer

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida — Martina Hingis won her first doubles title in seven years when she and Sabine Lisicki beat Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 on Sunday at the Sony Open.

The doubles title was the 38th for Hingis, a former No. 1 player, but her first since Doha in 2007. The final was the first for the 33-year-old Hingis since she came out of retirement last year to play doubles.

Hingis said the championship makes her want to play more doubles. The title came three weeks after she and Lisicki lost in the first round at Indian Wells.

“Last week, I was like, ‘I’m not sure if I want to put myself out there like this and lose first, second round,’” Hingis said. “Now, after this victory, definitely things change. I would be very happy to continue to play some more doubles.”

Hingis also won Key Biscayne in 1998 and 1999 with Jana Novotna. She and Lisicki made the tournament as a wild-card entry.

might end it himself. “I’m pretty sure because he’s going to rest like half of the team.”

On Monday, Tim Duncan went 3 of 10 from the field and Manu Ginobili managed only six points and two assists in 16 minutes. The Spurs still routed a team that had been No. 1 in the East all season.

Indiana trails two-time defending champion Miami by percentage points for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. “We’ll worry about a couple of things, staying healthy, finishing the season strong and hopefully going into the playoffs with the confidence we’re playing with now,” Duncan said.

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) grabs a rebound in front of Indiana Pacers guard Rasual Butler in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, March 31, 2014.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Martina Hingis, of Switzerland, foreground, returns a shot in front of her partner Sabine Lisicki, of Germany, as they compete against Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, and Casey Dellacqua, of Australia.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

8

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

9

Sp rt Why can’t Israel match Bosnia at World Cup? Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz

America’s Gabriel Rey celebrates a goal against Guadalajara during a Mexican soccer league match in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sunday, March 30, 2014.

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring a penalty with his teammate Neymar during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella Llobregat, Spain, Saturday, March 29, 2014.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Neymar lighting up social media, not Barcelona Associated Press Writer

BARCELONA, Spain — In his first season at Barcelona, there’s been no escaping Neymar’s public profile of selfies, tweets and big-money advertising campaigns. The message on the field, though, hasn’t been quite so impressive. The 22-year-old Brazilian, hyped as the heir to Pele, hasn’t made the anticipated impact on European football following his blockbuster move from Santos.

Even his flamboyant hairstyles have been toned down. In his first season at Barcelona, Neymar has scored 14 goals in 35 appearances.

His famous teammate Lionel Messi has scored 36 goals in 34 matches.

Questions have been asked about Neymar’s slight physique - he’s 1.75 meters (5-foot-9) and weighs 64.5 kilograms (142 pounds) - and whether he’s being played out of position. But Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has been quick to reject such talk. “Neymar may be more comfortable on the left than the right, but Barcelona players are

good enough to play in any position,” Martino said. “I try to bring all the players together in the best way. Neymar is comfortable playing in any three of the attacking positions.”

Neymar appears to be struggling against sturdier and quicker defenders in the Spanish league compared to teams back home in Brazil. In Spain, his reputation does not appear to have paralyzed defenses as it did back home. And being constantly compared to Messi is hard for any player. “I think too much is expected of Neymar,” said Daniel Alves, a

teammate for both Barcelona and Brazil and regular face in the selfies. “The abnormal thing would be a quick adaptation to European football. Football here is quicker and better organized.

“But the attacks on him started with all the talk about the contract.

Before that everybody was happy.”

Neymar’s 57 million euro ($74 million) transfer last year quickly went sour as the price tag grew to 100 million euros ($138 million). That cost Barcelona president Sandro Rosell his job and put the Catalan club under investigation for tax

fraud, leading to damaging public scrutiny of Neymar and his father, also his agent.

The public discussion over his contract and reports that 40 million euros ($55 million) of the transfer went straight into his father’s bank account has had an effect, as Neymar lost his cool and attacked critics on social media earlier this year. “I am sick and tired of this (...) I’ve had enough of all this talk,” Neymar wrote. “I am a fan of my dad for having put me where I am, and if he makes millions from that, what’s the big deal? He worked for it, it didn’t just fall in his lap.”

Neymar arrived at Barcelona accompanied by a repertoire of mesmerizing skill and moves, dazzling goals, and a bright and brash personality. The best paid athlete in Brazil has 10.1 million follow-

ers on Twitter and more than 4.3 million on Instragram, where he recently posted photos taken with superstar model Gisele Bundchen for Vogue Magazine.

Neymar was reportedly made the club’s highest earner, ahead of even four-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, causing tension in the locker room and increasing expectations from demanding fans.

Ex-Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff, dissecting Barca’s problems this season, pinned it firmly on Neymar.

“Barca has one problem, and it’s that a 21-year-old player is making more than those who have won everything for the club. At 21, nobody is God and that’s a problem for Barca and the player.”

Neymar was 21 when Cruyff made the comments.

Rey’s 2 goals help America beat Chivas 4-0

Associated Press Writer

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Luis Gabriel Rey’s two first-half goals helped America to a 4-0 win over Chivas on Sunday in the big game between Mexico’s most popular teams. Rey opened the scoring from close range in the 9th minute and doubled America’s lead six minutes later with a shot from 25 yards.

Mexico striker Raul Jimenez made it 3-0 in the 56th, before Luis Mendoza finished off the scoring with a lobbed shot in the 74th.

League leader Cruz Azul slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Atlas on Saturday, allowing second-place Toluca to close the gap to one competition point after its 2-1 win over Tigres. Atlas took the lead after three minutes when Martin Barragan curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area and, after Marco Fabian equalized from close range, Maikon Leite and Barragan secured the win with goals before half time.

Toluca needed an injury-time goal from Raul Nava to seal its win

over Tigres after Paraguayan Pablo Velazquez’ opener in the 12th was canceled out by U.S. international Jose Torres’ 25-yard left-foot shot.

In other weekend results, Monterrey had a 3-2 win over Atlante, Veracruz overcame Pachuca 3-1, Santos Laguna defeated Pumas 2-1, Leon drew 1-1 with Puebla, Queretaro beat Tijuana 2-1 and Chiapas had a 1-0 victory over Morelia.

Lucas Silva opened the scoring for Monterrey in the 15th, with Michael Arroyo equalizing 10 minutes later.

Wilson Morelo and Cesar Delgado netted second-half goals for Monterrey, before Roberto Gutierrez reduced Atlante’s deficit.

Second-half goals from Cristian Martinez and Liber Quinones secured victory for Veracruz, after an own goal from Pachuca’s Efrain Cortes and a goal in the right net from Enner Valencia meant the teams were level at halftime.

Mexico international Oribe Peralta scored in the 22nd and late in second-half injury time for Santos Laguna after Dante Lopez had given Pumas an early lead in the 3rd.

NETANYA, Israel — At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a young Mordechai Shpigler curled a mighty left-foot strike into the back of the net to secure a 1-1 draw for Israel against Sweden. The goal became a seminal moment in Israeli sports and turned Shpigler into a national icon.

To the frustration of Israeli fans, it also remains the country’s only World Cup goal.

Israel’s small size, alone, doesn’t explain its failure to make any notable dent on world football since that sole appearance in the showcase tournament. With 8 million residents, Israel is larger than Croatia, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Bosnia — which all qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“Every four years, I say, ‘This year they will advance’ and every four years I am wrong,” Shpigler, now honorary president for the team of his youth, Maccabi Netanya, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“But those who are even more wrong than me are those who are supposed to help the team advance. In all the years since (1970) everyone has done the same, which is essentially nothing.”

Mideast politics are partly to blame.

The 1970 team qualified for the World Cup via the Asian Football Confederation, where Israel was successful, winning the Asian Cup and qualifying for the Olympics. But it was constantly boycotted by teams from Muslim nations and eventually moved to another continental confederation. After a short stint in Oceania, Israel eventually landed in European qualifiers where it faced much tougher competition.

Highly-rated Israeli players such as Ronny Rosenthal (Liverpool, Tottenham), Eyal Berkovic (West Ham, Manchester City), Haim Revivo (Celta Vigo, Fenerbahce) and Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool, Chelsea) enjoyed success in Europe, but their individual achievements did not lead to national progress.

Perhaps Israel’s greatest achieve-

ment of the last generation was helping keep France out of the 1994 World Cup with a 3-2 injury-time win in the qualifiers. That, and a 5-0 thrashing of Austria in 1999, however, proved to be aberrations.

That’s painful for a country where football is the most popular sport, with basketball a distant second. The fact that Israel has often been one of the last to be eliminated from World Cup and Euro qualifiers only added to popular frustration.

The Israeli league remains mediocre at best. When top clubs like Hapoel Tel Aviv or Maccabi Haifa have made it into the European Champions League they have been trashed by the superior competition. The league has proved to be a springboard for some talented players who have moved on to Europe, though, such as Nigeria’s top goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

The second- and third-string goalies on that World Cup-bound team currently play in Israel.

opened the scoring in the 37th with his first goal for Inter since transferring from Lazio in January and Rodrigo Palacio doubled the lead with his 14th of the season in firsthalf added time. Paulinho pulled one back for Livorno in the 54th to start the comeback.

Inter remained fifth, only two points ahead of Parma in the race for the final Europa League berth. It was the third consecutive match Inter failed to win, although this one had to be particularly painful for Inter’s

first-year coach Walter Mazzarri, who is from the Livorno area.

Earlier, Udinese beat last-place Catania 1-0 with a header from captain Antonio Di Natale in the 68th.

Udinese’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Simone Scuffet had another stellar performance, preserving the clean sheet with several difficult saves.

Udinese moved 13 points clear of the relegation zone, with seven rounds remaining. Catania remained one point behind Sassuolo and dropped five behind Livorno.

Inter wastes 2-goal lead in 2-2 draw at Livorno

Associated Press Writer

ROME — Inter Milan wasted a two-goal lead when a glaring error from Fredy Guarin led to a late equalizer by relegation-threatened Livorno in a 2-2 draw Monday. Five minutes from time, Guarin’s ill-advised pass back to defender Walter Samuel was intercepted by Livorno forward Innocent Emeghara, who then did well to beat goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with a long shot.

Brazil playmaker Hernanes had

Malaga rallies for 2-1 win at Betis in Spain Associated Press Writer

BARCELONA, Spain — Malaga scored twice in the final eight minutes for a 2-1 victory at last-place Real Betis, whose hopes of avoiding relegation took a blow after another disappointing Spanish league defeat.

Betis had a chance to salvage a point in stoppage time, but Ruben Castro sent his penalty kick off the

crossbar to leave Betis ruing a missed opportunity that left it 11 points from salvation with seven rounds remaining.

Juanmi Jimenez canceled out Lolo Reyes’ first-half opener in the 82nd minute before Sergi Darder notched the winner with two minutes left to play as Malaga moved five points clear of the drop. Also on Monday, Levante beat Granada 2-0.

Inter of Milan’s Hernanes, right, celebrates past teammate Jesus after scoring during a serie A soccer match against Livorno in Leghorn, Italy, Monday, March 31, 2014.

AP Photo/Francesco Speranza

8

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

9

Sp rt Why can’t Israel match Bosnia at World Cup? Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz

America’s Gabriel Rey celebrates a goal against Guadalajara during a Mexican soccer league match in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sunday, March 30, 2014.

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring a penalty with his teammate Neymar during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella Llobregat, Spain, Saturday, March 29, 2014.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Neymar lighting up social media, not Barcelona Associated Press Writer

BARCELONA, Spain — In his first season at Barcelona, there’s been no escaping Neymar’s public profile of selfies, tweets and big-money advertising campaigns. The message on the field, though, hasn’t been quite so impressive. The 22-year-old Brazilian, hyped as the heir to Pele, hasn’t made the anticipated impact on European football following his blockbuster move from Santos.

Even his flamboyant hairstyles have been toned down. In his first season at Barcelona, Neymar has scored 14 goals in 35 appearances.

His famous teammate Lionel Messi has scored 36 goals in 34 matches.

Questions have been asked about Neymar’s slight physique - he’s 1.75 meters (5-foot-9) and weighs 64.5 kilograms (142 pounds) - and whether he’s being played out of position. But Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has been quick to reject such talk. “Neymar may be more comfortable on the left than the right, but Barcelona players are

good enough to play in any position,” Martino said. “I try to bring all the players together in the best way. Neymar is comfortable playing in any three of the attacking positions.”

Neymar appears to be struggling against sturdier and quicker defenders in the Spanish league compared to teams back home in Brazil. In Spain, his reputation does not appear to have paralyzed defenses as it did back home. And being constantly compared to Messi is hard for any player. “I think too much is expected of Neymar,” said Daniel Alves, a

teammate for both Barcelona and Brazil and regular face in the selfies. “The abnormal thing would be a quick adaptation to European football. Football here is quicker and better organized.

“But the attacks on him started with all the talk about the contract.

Before that everybody was happy.”

Neymar’s 57 million euro ($74 million) transfer last year quickly went sour as the price tag grew to 100 million euros ($138 million). That cost Barcelona president Sandro Rosell his job and put the Catalan club under investigation for tax

fraud, leading to damaging public scrutiny of Neymar and his father, also his agent.

The public discussion over his contract and reports that 40 million euros ($55 million) of the transfer went straight into his father’s bank account has had an effect, as Neymar lost his cool and attacked critics on social media earlier this year. “I am sick and tired of this (...) I’ve had enough of all this talk,” Neymar wrote. “I am a fan of my dad for having put me where I am, and if he makes millions from that, what’s the big deal? He worked for it, it didn’t just fall in his lap.”

Neymar arrived at Barcelona accompanied by a repertoire of mesmerizing skill and moves, dazzling goals, and a bright and brash personality. The best paid athlete in Brazil has 10.1 million follow-

ers on Twitter and more than 4.3 million on Instragram, where he recently posted photos taken with superstar model Gisele Bundchen for Vogue Magazine.

Neymar was reportedly made the club’s highest earner, ahead of even four-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, causing tension in the locker room and increasing expectations from demanding fans.

Ex-Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff, dissecting Barca’s problems this season, pinned it firmly on Neymar.

“Barca has one problem, and it’s that a 21-year-old player is making more than those who have won everything for the club. At 21, nobody is God and that’s a problem for Barca and the player.”

Neymar was 21 when Cruyff made the comments.

Rey’s 2 goals help America beat Chivas 4-0

Associated Press Writer

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Luis Gabriel Rey’s two first-half goals helped America to a 4-0 win over Chivas on Sunday in the big game between Mexico’s most popular teams. Rey opened the scoring from close range in the 9th minute and doubled America’s lead six minutes later with a shot from 25 yards.

Mexico striker Raul Jimenez made it 3-0 in the 56th, before Luis Mendoza finished off the scoring with a lobbed shot in the 74th.

League leader Cruz Azul slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Atlas on Saturday, allowing second-place Toluca to close the gap to one competition point after its 2-1 win over Tigres. Atlas took the lead after three minutes when Martin Barragan curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area and, after Marco Fabian equalized from close range, Maikon Leite and Barragan secured the win with goals before half time.

Toluca needed an injury-time goal from Raul Nava to seal its win

over Tigres after Paraguayan Pablo Velazquez’ opener in the 12th was canceled out by U.S. international Jose Torres’ 25-yard left-foot shot.

In other weekend results, Monterrey had a 3-2 win over Atlante, Veracruz overcame Pachuca 3-1, Santos Laguna defeated Pumas 2-1, Leon drew 1-1 with Puebla, Queretaro beat Tijuana 2-1 and Chiapas had a 1-0 victory over Morelia.

Lucas Silva opened the scoring for Monterrey in the 15th, with Michael Arroyo equalizing 10 minutes later.

Wilson Morelo and Cesar Delgado netted second-half goals for Monterrey, before Roberto Gutierrez reduced Atlante’s deficit.

Second-half goals from Cristian Martinez and Liber Quinones secured victory for Veracruz, after an own goal from Pachuca’s Efrain Cortes and a goal in the right net from Enner Valencia meant the teams were level at halftime.

Mexico international Oribe Peralta scored in the 22nd and late in second-half injury time for Santos Laguna after Dante Lopez had given Pumas an early lead in the 3rd.

NETANYA, Israel — At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a young Mordechai Shpigler curled a mighty left-foot strike into the back of the net to secure a 1-1 draw for Israel against Sweden. The goal became a seminal moment in Israeli sports and turned Shpigler into a national icon.

To the frustration of Israeli fans, it also remains the country’s only World Cup goal.

Israel’s small size, alone, doesn’t explain its failure to make any notable dent on world football since that sole appearance in the showcase tournament. With 8 million residents, Israel is larger than Croatia, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Bosnia — which all qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“Every four years, I say, ‘This year they will advance’ and every four years I am wrong,” Shpigler, now honorary president for the team of his youth, Maccabi Netanya, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“But those who are even more wrong than me are those who are supposed to help the team advance. In all the years since (1970) everyone has done the same, which is essentially nothing.”

Mideast politics are partly to blame.

The 1970 team qualified for the World Cup via the Asian Football Confederation, where Israel was successful, winning the Asian Cup and qualifying for the Olympics. But it was constantly boycotted by teams from Muslim nations and eventually moved to another continental confederation. After a short stint in Oceania, Israel eventually landed in European qualifiers where it faced much tougher competition.

Highly-rated Israeli players such as Ronny Rosenthal (Liverpool, Tottenham), Eyal Berkovic (West Ham, Manchester City), Haim Revivo (Celta Vigo, Fenerbahce) and Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool, Chelsea) enjoyed success in Europe, but their individual achievements did not lead to national progress.

Perhaps Israel’s greatest achieve-

ment of the last generation was helping keep France out of the 1994 World Cup with a 3-2 injury-time win in the qualifiers. That, and a 5-0 thrashing of Austria in 1999, however, proved to be aberrations.

That’s painful for a country where football is the most popular sport, with basketball a distant second. The fact that Israel has often been one of the last to be eliminated from World Cup and Euro qualifiers only added to popular frustration.

The Israeli league remains mediocre at best. When top clubs like Hapoel Tel Aviv or Maccabi Haifa have made it into the European Champions League they have been trashed by the superior competition. The league has proved to be a springboard for some talented players who have moved on to Europe, though, such as Nigeria’s top goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

The second- and third-string goalies on that World Cup-bound team currently play in Israel.

opened the scoring in the 37th with his first goal for Inter since transferring from Lazio in January and Rodrigo Palacio doubled the lead with his 14th of the season in firsthalf added time. Paulinho pulled one back for Livorno in the 54th to start the comeback.

Inter remained fifth, only two points ahead of Parma in the race for the final Europa League berth. It was the third consecutive match Inter failed to win, although this one had to be particularly painful for Inter’s

first-year coach Walter Mazzarri, who is from the Livorno area.

Earlier, Udinese beat last-place Catania 1-0 with a header from captain Antonio Di Natale in the 68th.

Udinese’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Simone Scuffet had another stellar performance, preserving the clean sheet with several difficult saves.

Udinese moved 13 points clear of the relegation zone, with seven rounds remaining. Catania remained one point behind Sassuolo and dropped five behind Livorno.

Inter wastes 2-goal lead in 2-2 draw at Livorno

Associated Press Writer

ROME — Inter Milan wasted a two-goal lead when a glaring error from Fredy Guarin led to a late equalizer by relegation-threatened Livorno in a 2-2 draw Monday. Five minutes from time, Guarin’s ill-advised pass back to defender Walter Samuel was intercepted by Livorno forward Innocent Emeghara, who then did well to beat goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with a long shot.

Brazil playmaker Hernanes had

Malaga rallies for 2-1 win at Betis in Spain Associated Press Writer

BARCELONA, Spain — Malaga scored twice in the final eight minutes for a 2-1 victory at last-place Real Betis, whose hopes of avoiding relegation took a blow after another disappointing Spanish league defeat.

Betis had a chance to salvage a point in stoppage time, but Ruben Castro sent his penalty kick off the

crossbar to leave Betis ruing a missed opportunity that left it 11 points from salvation with seven rounds remaining.

Juanmi Jimenez canceled out Lolo Reyes’ first-half opener in the 82nd minute before Sergi Darder notched the winner with two minutes left to play as Malaga moved five points clear of the drop. Also on Monday, Levante beat Granada 2-0.

Inter of Milan’s Hernanes, right, celebrates past teammate Jesus after scoring during a serie A soccer match against Livorno in Leghorn, Italy, Monday, March 31, 2014.

AP Photo/Francesco Speranza

10

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Destination

International

Labuan Sait Beach IBP

BADUNG - Labuan Sait beach is more known as PadangPadang Beach. It is located in north part of Badung Regency.

The access to this clean beach has been good where it can be reached by car and motorcycle.

The tourist can pass Uluwatu Street until find the sign Labuan Sait Beach. The distance from capital city Denpasar is about 32 km or 60 minutes.

This beach is very unique and different with others. When entering this beach the tourists will get into cave from big coral reef. There are also many big rock and coral towering high along the coast. This wonderful view attracts the tourist to feel natural nuance in this paradise island. Moreover, in the afternoon, the sunset that lights the white sand and wave make the scenery really marvelous.

For the beach lover, this beach should be visited. The tourists that mostly come from Australia, Chinese, Javanese and Austria, can do some interesting activities like sun-bathing recreation, relaxation and swimming. Around the area, there are some souvenir seller that sell hut, dress and many others.

In addition, there are also the rental canoes and bodyboards and surfing boards.

Sports

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

7

Spurs’ streak hits 18 with 103-77 win at Indiana Associated Press Writer

INDIANAPOLIS — Gregg Popovich may be the only guy who can stop the San Antonio Spurs right now. If the Spurs coach had his way, this franchise-record winning streak would probably already be over.

His players don’t see it quite the same way. Tony Parker scored 22 points, Boris Diaw added 14 and the Spurs earned their 18th consecutive NBA win by handing the Indiana Pacers their worst home loss of the season, 103-77, on Monday.

“We just wanted to continue to do what we’ve been doing, which is push the ball and play at a high pace and share the ball,” Parker said. “It’s nice to have the record in San Antonio, but it still doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win it all.” A year ago, the Spurs fell short in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Miami.

This year, San Antonio seems to be surging at just the right time. The Spurs, with a 58-16 record, haven’t lost since Feb. 21 at Phoenix and surpassed their previous best run on the 18th anniversary of their only other 17-game winning streak

by beating the NBA’s best home team on its own court. If Popovich had his way, this talk would likely be over.

His players don’t believe their coach will allow the streak to continue much longer, especially if the Spurs can clinch the NBA’s best record with games to spare. They lead Oklahoma City by 3½ games in the Western Conference and have six more wins than the Pacers and seven more than the Heat with eight to play.

“I think he’ll be happy if we lose anytime soon,” Parker said, laughing before explaining that Popovich

Hingis wins 1st doubles title since 2007 Associated Press Writer

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida — Martina Hingis won her first doubles title in seven years when she and Sabine Lisicki beat Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 on Sunday at the Sony Open.

The doubles title was the 38th for Hingis, a former No. 1 player, but her first since Doha in 2007. The final was the first for the 33-year-old Hingis since she came out of retirement last year to play doubles.

Hingis said the championship makes her want to play more doubles. The title came three weeks after she and Lisicki lost in the first round at Indian Wells.

“Last week, I was like, ‘I’m not sure if I want to put myself out there like this and lose first, second round,’” Hingis said. “Now, after this victory, definitely things change. I would be very happy to continue to play some more doubles.”

Hingis also won Key Biscayne in 1998 and 1999 with Jana Novotna. She and Lisicki made the tournament as a wild-card entry.

might end it himself. “I’m pretty sure because he’s going to rest like half of the team.”

On Monday, Tim Duncan went 3 of 10 from the field and Manu Ginobili managed only six points and two assists in 16 minutes. The Spurs still routed a team that had been No. 1 in the East all season.

Indiana trails two-time defending champion Miami by percentage points for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. “We’ll worry about a couple of things, staying healthy, finishing the season strong and hopefully going into the playoffs with the confidence we’re playing with now,” Duncan said.

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) grabs a rebound in front of Indiana Pacers guard Rasual Butler in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, March 31, 2014.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Martina Hingis, of Switzerland, foreground, returns a shot in front of her partner Sabine Lisicki, of Germany, as they compete against Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, and Casey Dellacqua, of Australia.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

6

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

W

RLD

International

3 dead, 2 missing in boat collision in Spain Associated Press Writer

MADRID — Spain’s Marine Rescue Service says at least three fishermen have died and two are missing after their boat collided with a cargo vessel in a northwestern inlet.

A spokeswoman said five other crew members of the Spanish fishing boat had been rescued.

There were no immediate details on the cause of Tuesday’s collision with the Singapore-flagged vehicle carrier, Baltic Breeze, in the inlet of Vigo. The nationalities of the three dead were not disclosed.

The official was speaking on condition of anonymity as she is not authorized to be identified publicly as the service’s spokesperson.

Australia to deploy flying air traffic controller Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

Self-Defense activists pass by the Dnipro Hotel in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. A tense standoff between Ukrainian police and a radical nationalist group Right Sector ended Tuesday, when its members surrendered their weapons and left a downtown hotel.

Russia hikes gas price for Ukraine Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW — Russia on Tuesday sharply hiked the price for natural gas to Ukraine and threatened to reclaim billions previous discounts, raising the heat on its cash-strapped government, while Ukrainian police moved to disarm members of a radical nationalist group after a shooting spree in the capital. Alexei Miller, the head of Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom natural gas giant, said Tuesday that the company has withdrawn December’s discount that put the price of gas at $268.50 per 1,000 cubic meters and set the price at $385.50 per 1,000 cubic meters for the second quarter.

The discount was part of a financial lifeline which Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, after his decision to ditch a pact with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Moscow.

The move fueled three months of protests which led Yanukovych to flee to Russia in February.

Radical nationalist groups played a key role in Yanukovych’s ouster, but they quickly fell out with the new government. Many activists are still encamped on Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan, and have signaled their intent to remain there until the election of what they deem to be a legitimate government.

Last week, one of the leaders of

the most prominent radical group, the Right Sector, was shot dead while resisting police. Right Sector members then besieged parliament for several hours, breaking windows and demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. They lifted the blockade after lawmakers set up a panel to investigate the killing.

Late Monday, a Right Sector member shot and wounded three people outside a restaurant adjacent to Kiev’s main Independence Square, including a deputy city mayor, triggering a standoff that lasted overnight.

Police responded by surrounding the downtown Dnipro Hotel, which Right Sector had commandeered as its headquarters, demanding that

the radicals lay down their weapons and leave. Avakov said that Right Sector members got into buses Tuesday morning leaving their weapons behind and headed to a suburban camp under the escort of officers of Ukraine’s Security Service.

The Ukrainian parliament then voted to order police to disarm all illegal armed units. Backers of the measure said the drive was needed to combat a recent surge in violent crime and to defuse the risk of provocations by “foreign citizens” in Kiev and the south and east of Ukraine, heavily Russian-speaking regions where anti-government groups have rallied over the past several weekends in calls for secession.

PERTH, Australia — Australia deployed Tuesday an airborne traffic controller over the Indian Ocean to prevent a mid-air collision among the many aircraft searching for the Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went missing over three weeks ago.

An air force E-7A Wedgetail equipped with advanced radar “is on its first operational” task in the search area in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a tweet. Earlier, Angus Houston, who heads the joint agency coordinating the multinational search effort, said the modified Boeing 737 will monitor the increasingly crowded skies over the remote search zone.

The three-week hunt for Flight 370 has turned up no sign of the Boeing 777, which vanished March 8 with 239 people on board bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia has been criticized for its handling of the search, particularly its communications to the media and families of the passengers. In something likely to fuel those concerns, the government changed its account of the final voice transmission from the cockpit.

In a statement late Monday, it said the final words received by ground controllers at 1:19 a.m. on March 8 were “Good night Malaysian threeseven-zero.” Earlier the government said the final words were “All right, good night.”

The statement didn’t explain the discrepancy or the significance of the slightly different sentences. The statement also said investigators were still trying to determine whether the pilot or co-pilot spoke the words.

At a news conference in Perth, Houston, the former Australian defense chief, called the search effort the most challenging one he has ever seen.

The starting point for any search is the last known position of the vehicle or aircraft, he said. “In this particular case, the last known position was a long, long way from where the aircraft appears to have gone,” he said. “It’s very complex, it’s very demanding.”

“What we really need now is to find debris, wreckage from the aircraft,” he said. “This could drag on for a long time.”

The search zone area has shifted as experts analyzed Flight 370’s limited radar and satellite data, moving from the seas off Vietnam to the waters west of Malaysia and Indonesia, and then to several areas west of Australia. The current search zone is a remote 254,000 square kilometer (98,000 square mile) that is a roughly 2 ½-hour flight from Perth.

AP Photo/Rob Griffith

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion’s co-pilot and Squadron Leader Brett McKenzie controls the pane while searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean, Monday, March 31, 2014.

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

11

INDONESIA President denies using state facilities for campaign

Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denies the allegation of using the state’s presidential facilities for the campaign of his Democratic Party (PD).

“I did not use the presidential facilities in any of my campaign,” the president clarified in his office, Jakarta, Tuesday.

President Yudhoyono stated that he has been orderly in carrying out the political campaigning regulations related to the use of state presidential facilities.

Therefore, the president will ask an authorized auditing institution to audit the campaign budget in order to fix the allegation that has been circulating among the citizen.

The president also asks all parties to obey the laws in determining the use of state facilities for official and personal use.

Earlier, the Election Supervisory Board planned to call the Democratic Party and Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi related to the campaign of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as chairman of the party, noted Nelson Simanjuntak, member of the election board.

“We plan to summon the Democrats party related to their campaign, then maybe the state secretary, as an institution that arranges of the presidential trip,” Nelson asserted when met at his office in Jakarta, Friday, March 23.

Nelson added that the election board had received complaints alleging campaign violations by state officials who use state -owned facilities.

Following the allegations, Minister and the State Secretary Sudi Silalahi made a statement denying the allegations on the President’s campaign, in Jakarta, Friday, March 28.

Sudi stressed that he had been compelled to issue a clarification in view of a number of news reports alleging that the President’s campaign breached the election law as he was using the state budget for it.

He claimed the news reports were not true because the President had not used state money for the campaign or for any other unlawful activities.

AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi

Indonesian Hindus take part in a ritual ceremony “Tawur Agung Kesanga,” or Great Purification Ceremony, held to welcome Nyepi, the annual day of silence, during which Balinese Hindus welcome in the New Year Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Prambanan Temple, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Three shot dead in Aceh ahead of elections Islamic parties head for poll drubbing Agence France-Presse

BANDAACEH - Gunmen riding a motorcycle have shot dead three people including a toddler in Indonesia’s Aceh, police said Tuesday, the latest violence in the western province before legislative elections next week.

The victims were killed late Monday when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on a small van decorated with pictures of election candidates from the Aceh Party, which dominates local politics.

Police said it was not clear who the gunmen were although there has been an upsurge in politically-linked attacks ahead of the April 9 polls.

The violence highlighted that security remains fragile in Aceh, on the northernmost tip of Sumatra island, almost a decade after a peace deal ended a 30-year separatist insurgency in the province that left some 25,000 people dead.

“The gunmen were believed to have been following the minivan -- which was carrying 12 people, including two toddlers -- and fired shots from behind, hitting four people,” said Ali Khadafi, police chief of Bireuen district, where the attack took place.

The driver rushed the passengers to a local health centre, but the 18-monthold boy, a man and a woman were dead on arrival, Khadafi said.

A 35-year-old man remains in critical condition, he added.

There have been spate of shootings, grenade attacks and assaults in Aceh in recent weeks, as parties campaign ahead of the elections.

Bloody violence also hit Aceh ahead of the 2012 governor elections and the 2009 legislative polls.

NGOs have accused the Aceh Party -- formed by former rebel fighters -- of carrying out the bulk of attacks on opposition members and supporters.

The elections, which are held every five years, will see 15 parties compete for some 20,000 seats in legislatures at the national, provincial and district level.

Under special autonomy granted by the peace deal, Aceh is Indonesia’s only province that can field candidates from its local parties against those from national parties at the elections.

However it cannot compete for seats in the national parliament, only local legislatures.

Aceh is also the only province in Indonesia with Islamic sharia law.

Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Nisa Ariyani staunchly supported Indonesia’s Muslim parties her whole life, throughout decades of authoritarian rule and at the three legislative elections after the country became democratic.

But when tens of millions vote in parliamentary polls in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country on April 9, the 42-year-old teacher is set to join a growing number who will not cast their ballot for an Islamic party.

Indonesia’s five main Muslim parties are heading for their worst ever showing at the elections, hit by explosive scandals and a growing trend among voters not to pick parties purely on religious grounds.

“I have lost my faith in Islamic parties, and I will vote for nobody,” said Ariyani, who lives in the capital Jakarta and has worn a headscarf all her life, even during the long rule of dictator Suharto when it was uncommon in Indonesia.

Her change of heart is due to a specific case -- a sordid scandal involving clandestine hotel room sex and huge kickbacks that rocked the party she

had supported at previous elections, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Before supporting the PKS, Indonesia’s biggest Islamic party, she backed the United Development Party, one of the few opposition groups allowed by Suharto and still around now.

The decline in support for Muslim parties -- which range from moderate groups to more extreme ones that want to introduce Islamic sharia law -- since the end of authoritarian rule in 1998 seems at first glance a paradox, analysts say.

Since the downfall of Suharto, who backed a secular state and was against the strong influence of Islam in public life, Indonesia has appeared to have become more Islamic, not less.

An increasing number of women wear the headscarf, Islam-influenced goods -- from fashion brands to apps that remind you when to pray -- are all the rage, while some people have even chosen to live in strict Islamic communities, rejecting the trappings of modern life.

The tumultuous years following the end of Suharto’s regime were also accompanied by an upsurge in Islamic extremism, notably the 2002 Bali bombings, in which 202 people

-- mostly foreign tourists -- were killed.

A crackdown over the past decade has weakened the most dangerous groups but Islamic extremists still regularly target domestic security forces.

Despite this, the country’s five main Islamic parties -- among 12 running in the parliamentary elections -- have seen their popularity slide in the sprawling archipelago nation where more than 90 percent of the population is Muslim.

Their combined share of the vote fell to around 26 percent at the 2009 legislative polls from around 34 percent a decade earlier.

Dodi Ambardi, a director at the Indonesian Survey Institute, predicts their support will fall to only 15 percent in the coming elections, particularly due to a drop for the PKS, which won almost eight percent in 2009.

No Islamic party is expected to do well enough to put a candidate forward for the presidential polls in July. A party or coalition of parties must win 20 percent of the seats in parliament or 25 percent of the national vote at the April elections to do so.

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International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

BUSINESS

Agence France-Presse

Shoppers gather at a discount shop in Tokyo, Sunday, March 30, 2014. Prices rose across Japan Tuesday as a controversial sales tax rise came into effect, with everything from beer to washing machines costing more, sparking fears a drop in consumer spending will derail a nascent economic recovery.

Sales tax rise in 17 years

Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - Prices rose across Japan Tuesday as a controversial sales tax rise came into effect, with everything from beer to washing machines costing more, sparking fears a drop in consumer spending will derail a nascent economic recovery. the higher prices was 18-yearold university student Hibiki Ishida, who was not impressed when he bought his favourite chewing gum on Tuesday.

“I get this gum every morning and I know the price is 120 yen ($1.15),” he said.

“But I handed 120 yen to the shop clerk today and she told me it was now 123 yen -- that unnerved me.”

Others, like a 20-year-old graduate surnamed Yoshida -- who is set to start a new job and live on her own -- have been planning for the hike, with some help.

“My mother has given me lots of daily stuff like tissue paper and plastic cling wrap,” she said.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

5

In Buleleng

Twitter expands ‘social TV’ efforts, buys two firms

Tokyo hiked the levy to 8.0 percent from 5.0 percent as it looks to control a public debt mountain, but corporate Japan’s concerns were highlighted by a closely watched survey of business sentiment showing bosses are cautious about the future.

In a country beset by years of deflation, critics warn that already thrifty shoppers would snap their wallets shut, and millions of shoppers made a last-minute dash to stores in recent weeks.

The last time Japan rolled out a higher sales levy, in 1997, it was followed by years of deflation and tepid growth that defined the country’s protracted slump.

Among those waking up to

Bali News

International

“So I can survive for the time being.”

The rise has presented a huge challenge for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since he swept to power in late 2012 on a ticket to drag the world’s number-three economy out of a cycle of falling prices and tepid growth.

On Tuesday, defending the rise -- which could be followed by another, to 10 percent -- Abe pointed to spiralling healthcare and social welfare costs, which are straining the public purse in a rapidly ageing society.

The rise “is meant to offset increases in social security costs over the years and to maintain the country’s trust”, he told reporters, adding that the battle to defeat years of growth-sapping

deflation would continue.

But a Kyodo news agency poll earlier this year said about three quarters of Japanese were feeling no impact from the premier’s growth efforts, which included an unprecedented monetary easy programme by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) that helped sharply weaken the yen and boost company profits.

Retailers are launching special deals to keep customer traffic steady, such as offering more points on shopping cards or promising a boost to the quality -- and in some cases, volume -- of their pricier products.

“There is a risk that my sales will drop,” said Masayuki Komatsubara, who runs a small Tokyo shop that sells seaweed and other dried food products.

O n Tu e s d a y, a c l o s e l y watched BoJ survey showed that business confidence soared to a more than six-year high in the January-March quarter.

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter said Monday it was expanding its “social TV” efforts with new global partnerships, as it struck deals to acquire companies in Britain and France.

The social TV firms SecondSync in Britain and Mesagraph in France announced separately they were joining Twitter. Terms of the deals were not announced.

The deals came as Twitter announced an expanded effort to be the “second screen” for TV viewers in countries around the world.

“Each day, Twitter users share the experience of watching television with friends and fans around the world,” Twitter’s Jana Messerschmidt said in a blog post.

“Today, we’re pleased to announce that we will bring Twitter TV measurement to even more regions of the world through an expanded partnership with Kantar.”

The agreement goes beyond Britain and Spain to the Nordics, Russia, parts of Africa and southeast Asia, the blog said.

“In addition to expanding our partnership into new regions, we’ll also work with Kantar on a program called ‘Data of Now’ that will apply Twitter’s public, real-time data to new research products in advertising effectiveness, consumer insight, brand equity and media measurement,” Messerschmidt said.

Twitter also expanded a deal with ratings firm Nielsen to measure social engagement in Italy and Australia and is working with partners on this in Japan, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

“These initiatives reflect the strength of our commitment to the social TV market,” she said.

Mesagraph announced on its website, “Today marks a new step for Social TV in Europe and for Mesagraph! We are really excited to announce that we’re joining Twitter!” SecondSync made a similar announcement.

“We are very proud of the business we have built up over the last three years,” the British firm said.

“Twitter is the only place that hosts a real-time, public conversation about TV at scale. By joining Twitter, we will be able to help take that experience, in concert with the rest of the TV ecosystem, to the next level -- particularly in markets outside the United States. Our current UK product will continue to be available for an interim period.”

Handicraft sector management hampered by marketing Bali Post

SINGARAJA - The artisans in Buleleng apparently remain to face serious obstacles in developing their businesses. One of the unresolved obstacles so far is the weak marketing of various types of native handicraft products of Buleleng. It was expressed by the family welfare movement or PKK Team Leader of Buleleng, Mrs. Aries Suradnyana, accompanied by the Secretary Mrs. Janati Sutrisna when receiving an audience of Bisnis Bali newspaper (a member of Bali Post Media Group-KMB) led by Ni Nengah Srianti in the Secretariat of PKK Buleleng, Friday (Mar 28).

Furthermore, Aries Suradnyana said that many villages had been known as producer of art objects spreading across multiple subdistricts. The resulting products consisted of bamboo plait, silver, glass puppets, weaving songket and various other art products.

These craft products, she added, in terms of quality and unique characteristic, were not easily found in other areas of Bali. “Of course, this condition is an advantage that can grab a larger market share and compete against the products of art objects from other areas in South Bali,” she said.

However, such a great potential and advantages seemed to have not been managed optimally, especially in terms of marketing. Even, some craftsmen currently only relied on the orders from buyers for their production. “Indeed, we have many potential craftsmen. In terms of qual-

ity and characteristics, they do not exist in other areas. Unfortunately, so far the artisans are still weak in marketing their products, so it seems unable to compete against artisans in South Bali,” she explained.

Addressing these issues, the Buleleng government through the PKK Team Leader was trying to facilitate the artisans to improve their market access by increasing promotion through exhibitions inside and outside the region. The PKK Team Leader planned to teach the artisans and other SMEs to take advantage of marketing by information technology (IT).

Marketing with e-commerce base was considered quite possible to improve the market access for the original handmade products of Buleleng. Moreover, the fairly rapid development of IT these days was very helpful in marketing a product compared to other ways.

To that end, the PKK Team

IBP/File Photo

The artisans in Buleleng apparently remain to face serious obstacles in developing their businesses. One of the unresolved obstacles so far is the weak marketing of various types of native handicraft products of Buleleng.

Leader planned to hold a workshop on Business Online in April 2014. This effort would be held in collaboration with the Bisnis Bali newspaper to teach the artisans, PKK cadres in Buleleng, pupils and

students in Buleleng on the techniques and tips of online business marketing products. “Incidentally, we work closely with the Bisnis Bali. We strongly support this effort because it poses at least a first step

in providing insight for the artisans, PKK cadres and students to use information technology in marketing the SMEs products, so it will be better known and more profitable,” she added. (mud)

Bali Post

in Jembrana subdistrict the Hindus were concentrated on Yeh Kuning Beach. Meanwhile, in the Negara subdistrict the activities were focused on Pengambengan Beach and Melaya subdistrict on Candikusuma Beach and Gilimanuk.

Hundreds of sanctified effigies were carried to Segara Temple located on the beach. Many people walked away and followed the convoy of people. On Candikusuma Beach, the melasti implementation was accompanied with trance. Dozens of people mostly teenagers of both sexes presented pendet dance were falling into trance. Implementation in the Segara Temple of Pengambengan also took place solemnly. Dozens of sanctified effigies from various temples and clan temples were accompanied by thousands of people. (kmb26)

Thousands of pilgrims in Jembrana throng 13 melasti destinations NEGARA - Thousands of Hindu pilgrims in Jembrana thronged the beach on Friday (Mar 28) to perform melasti or purificatory rite ahead of Nyepi Çaka Year 1936.

Hundreds of sanctified effigies and images were taken down to the sea in Jembrana to get a splash of holy water. The holy water was believed to increase the sanctity of their sanctified effigies.

Implementation of the melasti in Jembrana was almost held simultaneously in 13 coastal locations, starting from the Pekutatan with five points such as Pangyangan Beach, Gumbrih, Pangkung Jukung, Kerta Laksana and Yeh Leh Pengeragoan. Then, in the Mendoyo subdistrict was concentrated on Yeh Sumbul Beach, Rambutsiwi, Tembles and Delodbrawah, while IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Thousands of Hindu pilgrims in Jembrana thronged the beach on Friday (Mar 28) to perform melasti or purificatory rite ahead of Nyepi Çaka Year 1936.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Bali News

International

International

Dispose of materials into the sea

Buleleng House asks Celukan Bawang power plant project stop Bali Post

Nyoman Sukrawan, accompanied

by Chairman of Commission B Putu Mangku Budiasa and members.

In the meeting, Chairman of the House, Dewa Nyoman Sukrawan, said that PT GEB had committed an offense in the process of construction of the Celukan Bawang power plant. For violations, the House ordered the executive to stop the sea excavation and construction of the building without permission that violated the coastal borderline. Decision for the suspension of work on the power plant was valid until PT GEB with the contractor completed the necessary permissions.

“We ask the building project and marine excavation made without permission to be stopped first until PT GEB and its contractor submit the permission. We will continue to guard this issue and do not mess around when investing in Buleleng. Please follow the rules of the game and do not go around,” he said.

A similar opinion was expressed

by Chairman of Commission B of Buleleng House, Putu Mangku Budiasa. He said the results of coastal excavation disposed into the sea caused pollution of the marine environment at Celukan Bawang. Condition of coral reefs and marine life at the location were ascertained to be

RLD

Gunmen kill 1 Thai protesters, wound 4 in capital Associated Press Writer

The Celukan Bawang power plant project in Buleleng Regency

damaged and the sea polluted by the excavated materials disposed by the contractor. The rude behavior went up against the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) permit that had been issued by the government and violating the Law on Environment.

In addition, the establishment of building on the shoreline had not been completed the permit so far, while the building had been accomplished. More seriously, the building broke the rules of coastal borderline set forth in the Regional Bylaw on

Spatial Plan of Bali Province. “PT GEB and CHEC are violating three rules at once and this is the basis for us to instruct the executive to discontinue the construction on the edge of the beach and sea excavation which is clearly damaging to the environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the representative of PT GEB when responding to accusations of the House had admitted that it had warned the contractor CHEC to stop the construction because the permission had not been issued. How-

IBP/File

ever, the warning was not heeded by the CHEC and kept doing the work.

Against the allegation, the contractor CHEC even blamed back PT GEB that did not submit the permissions. CHEC as a power plant contractor stated that all licensing procedures were the responsibility of PT GEB. “The matter of permit is the whole responsibility of PT GEB, while we as contractor only work on what already exists in the design. Then, about suspension of work, please ask to PT GEB,” said Yohanes, representative of CHEC. (mud)

The website for Erawan emergency services said three men and two women were shot and one of the men died at a hospital.

The women were on a bus and the men were guards for the protesters who were on a sound truck, said Nasser Yeemah, who heads the self-described guards for the Student and People’s Network for the Reform of Thailand protest group.

He said he suspected the shots were fired from a tall building alongside the expressway where the vehicles were travelling.

The student network is a militant faction of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, which has been seeking to have Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign to make

way for an interim appointed government to initiate anti-corruption reforms.

Police Maj. Gen. Anucha Romyanan confirmed the circumstances of the shooting and said it was not immediately known what type of weapon was used. Protestrelated violence has left 24 dead and hundreds hurt since November.

Thai anti-government protesters sit and rest on the lawn inside the compound of prime minister’s office of government house during a rally in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, March 29, 2014.

AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn

Mudslide missing drops to 22; 24 confirmed dead Associated Press Writer

Reduce import

Increase productivity, strengthen farmers cooperative Bali Post

DENPASAR - High import of food products should be able to be suppressed by increasing productivity and strengthening farming cooperative institutions. Other than reducing the dependence on imports, these aspects can also expand employment. It was revealed by I Putu Sudiarta, PhD., an agricultural practitioner.

According to him, the import was done if it was in very urgent condition or impossible to be produced. However, Indonesia was the opposite. Imported products were

very high, while Indonesia had the potential of abundant natural resources. “This country is funny.

The salt is imported whereas the country is surrounded by sea. When managed well, it’s no need to import,” firmly Sudiarta.

Farming in Indonesia, including Bali, said the lecturer of Agriculture in the Udayana University, mostly had not run as expected. According to him, the idea of farming was indeed good but had not been poised with good ability, especially the effective management system. “I think the stakeholders are still not serious, including the government and farm-

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BANGKOK — Gunmen killed one person and wounded four Tuesday, in another attack on anti-government protesters in Thailand’s long political crisis, authorities said. The shots were fired in midafternoon at a bus and a flatbed truck carrying demonstrators to their encampment in central Bangkok after they had protested at a complex of government offices just north of the city.

BULELENG - A number of issues still impede the process of coalfueled power plant megaproject at Celukan Bawang village, Gerokgak. The contractor digs the shoreline in the project core location for the installation of pipes under the sea. Unfortunately, the dredging materials are dumped into the sea. In addition, one of the buildings in the core location has not owned a permit and breaks the rules of coastal borderline.

Information collected in the field mentioned if the contractor China Hudian Engineering Corporation (CHEC) had made excavation on the shoreline to the middle of the ocean along 600 meters within the past month. As planned, after the excavation it would install a giant pipe. This giant pipe functioned to drain the sea water as a coolant. Unfortunately, the results of excavation materials were even dumped into the sea. Of course, the excavation activity was known by law enforcement officials as well as the Buleleng House. Even, the House and police officers had come down to location and found the digging activity and the materials were dumped into the sea.

Other than excavating the sea, the contractor was also making a building in the core location of the mega project that had not had a Building Permit (IMB) issued by the Office of Integrated Services (KPT) of Buleleng. Even, the permanent building clearly violated the provisions of the coastal borderline set forth in Regional Bylaw on Spatial Plan of Bali. The owner of the new mega power plant permit, PT General Energy Bali (GEB) with contractor were summoned to attend a hearing in the parliamentary house led by the Chairman of the House, Dewa

W

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

ers. If farming is strong, I’m sure we do not lack food,” he said.

Secretary of the Indonesia Farmers Union (HKTI) of Badung, Ketut Sugiana, said the rural cooperatives (KUD) in the New Order period was indeed established for the benefit of the majority of farmers. However, most of the cooperatives in Bali did not match the expectations in the progress. “Strengthening the cooperative institutions in the field of farming is very important. This institution is supposed to be the government’s attention in order to strengthen the farmers’ bargaining position with the parties who have

an interest in the agricultural products and agricultural activity itself,” he added.

In addition, according to Sugiana, the government needed to establish a Farmers Bank. The bank would work together with farming cooperatives spreading across Bali.

It was a banking institution that had specialized activities in financial management of farmers’ capital.

In the implementation, it still referred to the Act on the banking, but there was specific treatment in the distribution of capital to farmers. Later, farmers would have easy access to capital. “Special treatment

can be in the form of interest rates, credit administration and fund collection system of farmers. By strengthening the farming capital means to cope with crop failure and debt bondage system,” he said.

Sugiana added that Farmers Bank could serve as a holding company for financial institution such as cooperatives and farming cooperatives. Additionally, it could become foster father of farming cooperative.

“A lot of things can be done to save the farming in Bali provided that there should be seriousness of the government, farmers and stakeholders,” said Sugiana. (rah)

AP Photo/The Herald, Sofia Jaramillo, Pool

An American flag hangs from the only cedar post left standing at the scene of a deadly mudslide, Monday, March 31, 2014, in Oso, Wash.

DARRINGTON, Washington — Authorities in Washington state said they believe 22 people are still missing in the deadly mudslide that has killed at least 24 people. That is down from the 30 people they previously considered missing. The Snohomish County medical examiner’s office said it has positively identified 18 of the 24 victims in the official death toll.

Snohomish County Executive Director Gary Haakenson says the remains of three additional victims were found Monday, but they have not yet been included in the medical examiner’s official numbers. The slide struck a rural area northeast of Seattle on March 22.

Steve Harris, a division supervisor for the search effort, said search teams are learning more about the force of the March 22 slide, and that is helping them better locate victims in a debris field that is 70 feet (21 meters) deep in places. “There’s a tremendous amount of force and energy behind this,” Harris said of the slide. He didn’t provide further details.

Harris said search dogs are the primary tool for finding remains in the small, mountainside community about 55 miles (88 kilometers) northeast of Seattle. He said searchers are finding human remains four to six times per day. Sometimes crews only find partial remains, which makes the identification process harder. A makeshift road completed over the weekend links one side of the 300-acre (122-hectare) debris field to the other.

Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including household chemicals, septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday asked President Barack Obama for a major disaster declaration in Snohomish County to make programs available to help individuals, households and businesses.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Science

International

Global warming dials up our risks, UN report says Associated Press Writer

YOKOHAMA, Japan — If the world doesn’t cut pollution of heat-trapping gases, the already noticeable harms of global warming could spiral “out of control,” the head of a United Nations scientific panel warned Monday. And he’s not alone.

The Obama White House says it is taking this new report as a call for action, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying “the costs of inaction are catastrophic.”

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that issued the 32-volume, 2,610-page report here early Monday, told The Associated Press: “It is a call for action.” Without reductions in emissions, he said, impacts from warming “could get out of control.” One of the study’s authors, Maarten van Aalst, a top official at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said, “If we don’t reduce greenhouse gases soon, risks will get out of hand. And the risks have already risen.”

Twenty-first century disasters such as killer heat waves in Europe, wildfires in the United States, droughts in Australia and deadly flooding in Mozambique, Thailand and Pakistan highlight how vulnerable humanity is to extreme weather, according to the report from the Nobel Prize-winning group of scientists. The dangers are going to worsen as the climate changes even more, the report’s authors said.

“We’re now in an era where climate change isn’t some kind of future hypothetical,” said the overall lead author of the report, Chris Field of the Carnegie Institution for Science in California. “We live in an area where impacts from climate change are already widespread and consequential.” Nobody is immune, Pachauri and other scientists said.

“We’re all sitting ducks,” Princeton University professor Michael Oppenheimer, one of the main authors of the report, said in an interview.

After several days of late-night wrangling, more than 100 governments unanimously approved the scientist-written 49-page summary — which is aimed at world political leaders. The summary mentions the word “risk” an average of about 5 1/2 times per page. “Changes are occurring rapidly and they are sort of building up that risk,” Field said.

These risks are both big and small, according to the report. They are now and in the future. They hit farmers and big cities. Some places

AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan, File

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2014 file photo, children walk back home after school on a severely polluted day in Shijiazhuang, in northern China’s Hebei province. will have too much water, some not enough, including drinking water.

Other risks mentioned in the report involve the price and availability of food, and to a lesser and more qualified extent some diseases, financial costs and even world peace.

“Things are worse than we had predicted” in 2007, when the group of scientists last issued this type

of report, said report co-author Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development at the Independent University in Bangladesh. “We are going to see more and more impacts, faster and sooner than we had anticipated.”

The problems have gotten so bad that the panel had to add a new and

Bali News

International

GIPI deplores it without socialization Bali Post

DENPASAR - The Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) of Bali deplored the policy on the increase of passenger service charge (PJP2U) that was not accompanied by dissemination to airport users. This would raise questions among travelers and users of the air transport services, especially tourism actors. This statement was made by Chairman of the GIPI Bali, Ngurah Wijaya.

According to him, tourism practitioners just knew the increase in PJP2U or commonly known as airport tax at the Ngurah Rai Airport. “We just knew that there was an increase in airport tax. Ideally, any policy, especially regarding tourism, must be socialized to us long ago. So, the entrepreneurs could convey it to their guests,” he said.

He added the increase in passenger service charge would increase the burden of users of the air transport. This policy also applied at four airports, apart from the Ngurah Rai. The others were the Juanda International Airport (Surabaya), Sepinggan Interna-

tional Airport (Balikpapan), Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (Makassar) and Lombok Praya International Airport in force April 1. “Increased rates of up to IDR 75,000 to domestic passengers will surely be considered burdensome by the users, though not affecting the public interest to use this mode of transportation. Therefore, do not increase the rate only, while the service is still in shambles, causing disappointment,” he said.

He also asked the Angkasa Pura I to be transparent related to the problems faced. So, the Ngurah Rai Airport as a major gateway to Bali would not give a negative impression to travelers due to un-

satisfactory services.

Meanwhile, Co-GM of the Ngurah Rai International Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, said the tariff adjustment had been coordinated in advance and communicated with various parties. “Previously we have expressed this PJP2U tariff adjustment plan to the Ministry of Transportation in October 2013,” he said.

In addition to applying to the Ministry of Transportation, his party also coordinated and disseminated it to stakeholders such as the airlines, immigration, quarantine, customs and excise, INACA and business partners as well as to users of airport services which in

this case was represented by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

“The YLKI as representatives of consumers understands the steps of Angkasa Pura I that passenger service charge adjustment is defined as compensation of improving services at the airport,” he said.

PT Angkasa Pura had set a tariff adjustment for the overseas flight from IDR 150,000 to IDR 200,000, while for domestic flight from IDR 40,000 to IDR 75,000.

Improve services

Related to this increase, Wijaya asked the airport operator to show off excellent service as a form of compensation of rate increase in passenger service charge or known as the airport tax at the Ngurah Rai Airport. Moreover, the Ngurah Rai Airport was still under renovation, especially the domestic terminal, so there were many services that should be improved.

AP Photo/Kyodo News

In this Jan. 28, 2014 photo, Japanese government-funded laboratory Riken Center for Development Biology researcher Haruko Obokata, the lead author of a widely heralded stem-cell research paper, speaks about her research results on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells during a press conference in Kobe, western Japan.

TOKYO — Data in a widely heralded stem-cell research paper was falsified, a Japanese government-funded laboratory said Tuesday, as the lead researcher accused of the malpractice denied any wrongdoing. The research from the Riken Center for Development Biology in Kobe, western Japan, had been hailed as a possible breakthrough for growing tissue to treat illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease using a simple lab procedure.

But significant discrepancies in research published in January in scientific journal Nature led a panel of scientists at Riken to conclude they stemmed from falsified data.

They said researcher Haruko Obokata, the lead author of the paper in Nature, had manipulated or falsified images of DNA fragments used in the research.

“The investigation committee has concluded that Ms. Obokata is responsible for manipulation and therefore for research malpractice,” said Shunsuke Ishii, the Riken scientist who led the committee charged with investigating allegations the work was falsified. Obokata vehemently objected to the

Similar opinion was delivered by Deputy Chairman of the GIPI Bali, Bagus Sudibya. He judged the rate increase should be poised with an increase in services. Moreover, the Ngurah Rai Airport was the first guard to give a positive image in the eyes of travelers who made a visit.

“There should be compensation when the tariff is increased, such as with enhanced customer service. All this time I still see inconveniences perceived by the airport users,” he said.

He pointed out that some devices had not been operated. One of them was the international arrival gate where it was only equipped with one security checkpoint.

Actually, when several aircrafts arrived simultaneously, it would lead to long line of passengers. “It also includes some confusing instructions. Airport as a gateway to Bali is necessary to get the attention of all parties,” he said. (kmb27)

Plaited craft exports down

dangerous level of risks. In 2007, the biggest risk level in one key summary graphic was “high” and colored blazing red. The latest report adds a new level, “very high,” and colors it deep purple. You might as well call it a “horrible” risk level, said van Aalst: “The horrible is something quite likely, and we won’t be able to do anything about it.”

committee’s findings.

“I was outraged and shocked by the committee’s report,” she said in a statement. “I cannot accept the finding, and I intend to make an appeal to Riken in coming days.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made greater gender equality and female advancement in the workforce a plank of his economic revival strategy for Japan. But the recognition of Obokata, a fashionable young woman, as a leading scientist still made waves in conservative, male-dominated Japan.

The dispute over the research is also a setback for government efforts to market Japan’s research and development expertise as a 21st century industry needed to revitalize the country’s manufacturing. Juliette Savin, a spokeswoman for Riken, said that she could not comment on Obokata’s employment status.

In a news conference, Riken’s director Ryoji Noyori said that after allowing for an appeal, disciplinary action would be taken, including calling for retraction of the suspect paper. “Research misconduct occurred due to a young researcher’s lack of experience and awareness of the importance of research ethics,” Noyori said.

3

Increase in airport tax

Antara

Japan lab says stem cell research falsified Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati

An Indonesian man walks near an abandoned Boeing 737-400 in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. An Indonesian businessman is planning to redevelop the old Boeing 737 into an aviation-cinema and restaurant.

DENPASAR - The Indonesian tourist resort province of Bali earned US$1.06 million from its bamboo-based plaited product exports in 2013, down 49.08 percent from US$2.08 million in the previous year.

The plaited product exports also dropped 52.35 percent in term of volume from 3.2 million units in 2012 to 1.44 units in 2013, Chief Spokesman of Bali’s Regional Government I Ketut Teneng, said.

He said that the conditions of the global market which had not yet fully recovered had caused the drop of Bali’s plaited craft exports.

Despite unfavorable global market conditions, Bali’s handicraftsmen continued with their activities to produce bamboo-based products to meet domestic and foreign tourists’ need for various souvenirs, Teneng said.

In the mean time, Bali’s tuna exports also dropped 7.75 percent in value to US$76.80 million in 2013 from US$83.25 million in the previous year.

“The export volume, however, rose 14.62 percent to 16,337 tons from 14,254 tons in 2012,” he said.

He said frozen and fresh tuna fish dominated Bali’s exports of 11 types of maritime commodities.

Tuna fish contributed 15.80 percent to Bali’s total export earning of US$486.06 million in 2013, he said.

He said exports of fishery and maritime commodities were valued at US$114.8 million in 2013, down slightly from US$114.89 million in 2012.

He said hundreds of fishing vessels unload their catches of tuna every day at Benoa port to be exported after the process of cleaning.

The fish is exported mainly to Japan 41.04 percent, the United States 15.90 percent, Singapore 2.48 percent and Australia 8.93 percent, he said.

Smaller parts are also exported to other countries such as Britain, Hong Kong, Italy and Spain, France and the Netherlands.

2

International

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Bali News

The struggle will never recede

IBP/file

Baleganjur music welcomes four Jalak activists

Preceded with purificatory rite on Mertasari Beach

AFTER the arrest suspension was granted by the Bali Police, the four Jalak Sidakarya activists namely Wayan Tirtayasa, I Wayan Saniyasa, I Wayan Adi Jayanatha and I Made Murdana went to Mertasari Beach to perform melukat or purificatory rite procession. The procession was expected to neutralize negative energy. After performing the ritual, they were straight heading to Sidakarya village. of Four Environmental Warriors Liberation Post, I Made Suardana.

After that, his party would wait for the case file that would be sent

by Bali Police investigator to the prosecutor office. The transfer of file especially related to forensic laboratory results was prone to be criminalized. “We will say to the prosecutor, one thing to be wary of is related to the results of forensic lab, which in our opinion, is prone to be criminalized. For example, by accusing our four friends who have made it because so far all of them have declared if they have never written it,” explained Suardana.

Meanwhile, the attorney of the four activists, Wayan ‘Gendo’

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

15

Brazilian Chef Adriano Ricco

The activists from Sidakarya pray in Candi Narmada Temple

Before returning to their homes on Friday (Mar 28), the four environmental warriors were dropped at village intersection.

Accompanied with baleganjur gamelan music, they walked to the Four Environmental Warriors Liberation Post at hamlet hall of Dukuh Mertajati. In the post, the family had been waiting the four people with a happy face. The happiness radiated as if answering their wait for some 20 days for the arrest suspension granted

by Bali Police.

“All residents gave support to continue the struggle for rejecting the Benoa Bay reclamation,” said Chairman

Activities

International

Suardana constantly hoped they would be protected by the constitution, Human Rights Act and Article 66 of the Law No.32/2009 on the Environmental Management and Protection. Moreover, Article 66 included the right of immunity or impunity for environmental warrior. “What’s interesting about this process is there are about 40 local and national organizations protested to Bali Police Chief and the National Police Chief. One of which is Kontras that uses international mechanisms to report the cases as harming human rights to Margaret Sekaggya as special rapporteur for the UN in the field of human rights,” he said. (kmb32)

“Once the sail spreads, it’s impossible to cancel.” This proverb is appropriate to describe the attitude of Jalak Sidakarya after their arrest suspension.

Nearly for a month, the four Jalak Sidakarya activists had been detained in Bali Police related to banners of blood thumbprint. I Wayan Tirtayasa should languished for 27 days, while three other colleagues such as I Wayan Saniyasa, I Wayan Adi Jayanatha and I Made Murdana had been detained for 23 days. During the period of suspension, they should not repeat any crime, should not escape, be willing to be present in the examination process any time and be cooperative. “The treatment of police officers to us is very good. In other words, we were treated like friends, without pressure, without discrimination and unlike prisoner,” said I Made Murdana.

This 25-year-old man admitted not to know who wrote ‘Cut the Head of Mangku P’ in the banner. “In our dossier we also described as such. In essence, we never write like what is being reported by the governor,” he said.

After the incident, Murdana admitted not to give up but still took lessons during his detention. Prison was considered a small stone that undermined their cause in rejecting reclamation. “Our struggle will never stop to reject the reclamation, especially for our beloved home village,” he added.

His colleague, I Wayan Saniyasa, stated the banner installation was pure aspiration of society. Mainly, it was intended that Governor and the House could see the direct aspiration of Sidakarya through blood thumbprint, signature and a statement rejecting the reclamation. “We have initiatives that the Governor and the House can see directly the aspirations of the Sidakarya community. We put up a banner in front of the governor’s office.

Previously, the banner was installed at Sidakarya for 10 days,” he said.

During the arrest, the four activists were flooded by support from various elements of society. They included local, national and even international institution having concern for the environment such as the Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), Friend of the Earth Indonesia (Walhi) along with 27 national organizations of Walhi in Indonesia, Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and Greenpeace Indonesia.

“We greatly appreciate the support because it is an encouragement for us. This support is also very important to us because it serves as a motivator to improve or re-create the same movement,” said I Wayan Adi Jayanatha. (kmb32)

Residents also shave bald

LEAVING fellow inmates who have been enjoying miseries together for 27 days is certainly not an easy thing. Similar condition was also felt by the four Jalak Sidakarya activists, Friday (Mar 28). After putting off yellow clothes (prisoner uniform) and folded them neatly, and then replaced it with another outfit that has been provided, they seemed touched. The atmosphere was apparent when they shook hands with the other prisoners who still inhabited the space behind the bars.

What happened in Bali Police was different from that at Sidakarya. On hearing the suspension of detention of their compatriots, the residents of Sidakarya were joyful. They were greeted with baleganjur gamelan. Not only that, last Friday a number of residents also took action by shaving bald their head as gratitude for this arrest suspension. At the evening, it was filled with dialogue in the post of Jalak Sidakarya. The four activists conveyed their experiences while in the detention room.

Previously, Spokesperson of Bali Police, Hariadi, said the suspension was granted based on the results of the investigation of the Directorate of General Crime of Bali Police. The investigators of the four activists judged they would not run away, not eliminate the evidence and not commit the same crime. “Seeing the filing has been completed, the investigator grants the suspension,” he said. (wan/nik/jay)

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Launches Hanging Gardens Ubud 2104 Guest Chef Series IBP

UBUD - Renowned Chef Adriano Ricco has worked in some of the world most famous kitchens, both in his native Brazil and New York City. He combines his passion for Latin cuisine with the quality of American bistros and the finesse of French cuisine Hanging Gardens Ubud is proud to announce its Guest Chef programme for 2014. This luxury boutique hotel, set in the stunning jungle landscape of Payangan, North of Ubud, is already a favourite of sophisticated gourmet travellers. Hanging Gardens has now handpicked selection of the world’s most established chefs to create their own gastronomic menus, drawing inspiration from their famous verdant tropical rainforest gardens.

Each chef will visit the hotel for a month and work closely with the hotel team of chefs, sharing recipes, learning and teaching new cooking techniques, taking part and giving cooking classes to

guests, creating lunch and dinner specials and designing and cooking a unique winepairing dinner, available to both guests and non-guests.

After the month’s culinary immersion, each chef will create his signature dish to be included in the hotel’s menu. Each chef will also become involved in the hotel’s annual local community programme. This year the focus is on helping the local village plant and grow its own organic produce.

World-renowned Chef Adriano Ricco will launch the new guest chef series, starting in April 2014 with a mouthwatering wine-pairing menu, utilising the skills honed from 18 years of cooking in

some of the world’s most famous kitchens in New York and his native Brazil, and combines his passion for Latin cooking with the quality of American bistro and the finesse of French cuisine.

Hanging Gardens Ubud is moving towards sustainability in the further development of cultivating organic produce around the estate. The hotel currently grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables such as mango, avocado, cacao, coffee, vanilla, mangosteens, star fruit and jackfruit, all of which are used in the kitchens and spa. Each guest chef will be invited to both add to and tend the gardens.

Calendar Event for March 5 through May 21, 2014 5 Mar Hari Urip 6 Mar Hari Patetegan 7 Mar Pengeradanan Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Kabayan Penebel Tabanan 8 Mar Saraswati Pura Pasek tangkas Gempinis Dalang Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Sayan Abiansemal Pura Watu Gunung Bima Pura Agung Jagat Karana Surabaya Pura Aditya Jaya Jakarta Pura Pemaksan Banyuning Timur Pura Agung Wira Loka Cimahi Jawa Barat 9 Mar Hari Banyu Pinaruh 10 Mar Soma Ribek Pura Jati Jembrana Pura Kawitan Bayu Gaiyang Bangli Tirta Wening Surabaya Pura Desa Lingga Wana Abang Karangasem 11 Mar Sabuh Mas 12 Mar Hari Pagerwesi Pura Labang Sindu JiwaUbud Pura Kehen Bangli Pura Wira Bhuana Magelang Jawa tengah Pura Padang Sakti Denpasar Timur Pura Payogan Agung Ketewel Gianyar Pura Gaduh Pangiasan Dauh Puri Denpasar Pura Masceti Tampak Siring Pura Dalem Ularan Denpasar Pura Siwa Penebel Tabanan Pura Luhur Sliki Banyuwangi Pura Gunung Lebah Ubud Pura Puseh Sukawati 15 Mar Purnama Sasih Kesanga Pura Nataran Sasih Pejeng Gianyar Pura Bukit Mentik Gunung lebah Batur Kintamani 17 Mar Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan 22 Mar Tumpek Landep Pura Mutering Jagat Dalem Sidakarya

Denpasar Pura Agung Pasek Tabanan Pura Pasek Tangkas Tabanan Pura Kerta Banyuning Buleleng Pura Dalem Tenggaling Singapadu Gianyar Pura Bhujangga Jembrana Pura Dalem pingit Tegalalang Pura Penataran Pande Pandean Mengwi Pura Ida Ratu Pande Besakih Pura Penataran AGung Tulikup Pura Kumuda Saraswati Ubud Pura Batur Arya Tabanan 23 Mar Radite Umanis Ukir Sanggah Gede Dukuh Segening Tegal Tugu Gianyar 26 Mar Buda Cemeng Ukir Pura Pajenengan Kawitan Arya Gelgel Kelungkung Pura Pasar Agung Besakih Pura Pasek Bendesa Legian Kuta Badung Pura Gde Gunung Agung Munggu Badung Pura Puseh Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Peruncak Badung Pura Pasek Bendesa Hyang Krobokan Badung Pura Kereban Langit Mengwi Badung 28 Mar Melasti Pakiyisan Ke Segara Pura Pasek Gelgel Kukuh Marga 30 Mar Tilem Kesanga Tawur Agung 31 Mar Hari Raya Nyepi 1 May Buda Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan

2 May Bhatara Sri Ida Ratu Geng Besakih Pura Penataran Agung Besakih Ida Ratu Raja Puraus Besakih Merajan Saloding Besakih 6 May Anggara Kasih Juluwangi Pura Thirta Harum Tegal Wangi Bangli Pura Baratan Baturiti Pura Batu Klotok Klungkung

Pura Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari Tabanan Pura Ibu Wanagiri Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Manik Bingin Dukuh Sidemen 7 May Pura Penataran Gana Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Gede Pande Bangli Pura Puncak Sari Sangeh Abian Semal Pura Puseh Penegil Dharma Kubu Tambahan Bangli Pura Dalem Maya Blahbatuh Gianyar Pura Linggih Betara Kayu Selem Penataran Agung Besakih 13 May Purnama Sasih Jiyestha Pura Dwija Warsa Malang Pura Pucak Tinggah Angsri Baturiti Pura Kawitan Luhur Bhujangga Jati Luwih Penebel Pura Kawitan Batur Pande Tonja Tonja Denpasar Pura Penataran Agung Sidemen Karangasem Pura Maospahit Grenceng Denpasar 15 May Sugihan Jawa Pura Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Tangkas Klungkung Pura Siang Kangin Peninjoan Tembuku Bangli Pura Ida Ratu Mas Penataran Agung Besakih Pura Ida Bhatara Bang Tulus Besakih 16 May Sugihan Bali Dan Kajeng Kliwon 18 May Penyekeban 19 May Penyajaan Galungan 20 May Penampahan Galungan 21 May Hari Raya Galungan Pura Wakika Kupang NTT Pura Agung Girinatha Sumbawa Besar NTB Pura Dukuh Sakti Dukuh Kediri Tabanan Pura Atambuananta Kutamba NTT Pura Webananta Kupang NTT Pura Giripati Mulawarman Pontianak Pura Mustika Dharma Cijantung Jakarta Timur

IBP/Courtesy of Hanging Gardens

Balinese Temple Ceremony Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

16 Pages Number 73 6th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

CBS TV comedy ‘How I Met Your Mother’ ends Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — In its 208th and final episode on Monday, the CBS TV comedy “How I Met Your Mother” finally revealed the mystery contained in its title and then ended with a twist designed to reward longtime fans.

Actor Josh Radnor’s character Ted meets the mom, played by actress Cristin Milioti, on a rainy train platform after his friends Barney and Robin are married.

But that marriage doesn’t last, and neither does Ted’s — because Milioti’s character Tracy dies after the couple has two children together. And at the end of the one-hour episode, the romance that seemed natural at the show’s beginning, between Ted and Robin, is rekindled.

Creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas say they knew the plot for the final episode when the series premiered nine years ago. Success kept them stringing along the story, even though part of Monday’s finale was filmed in 2006 for fear that the teen-aged actors who played Ted’s children would become unrecognizable.

The series has been a solid if not spectacular performer for CBS, and its average of 9.8 million viewers this season

means it will likely be its most-watched ever. It has never averaged below 8.25 million viewers in a season, the Nielsen company said, and its success in syndication means reruns will likely be seen for many years to come.

Most of the last season has been set in one weekend: Robin and Barney’s wedding, where Tracy was the bass player in the wedding band. The final episode skips through several years, where we learn that the marriage of Robin and Barney (played by Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris) splits up because of her success as a television correspondent.

Barney has a baby through a one-night stand and Marshall and Lily (played by Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan) have three kids and he becomes a judge.

Entertainment

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Russia hikes gas price for Ukraine

Page 6

Ted and Tracy get married after a long engagement and the kids, but she gets sick and dies, a development that many fans speculated upon in recent weeks because of a foreshadowing in an earlier episode. After that, Ted wraps up the story — how I met your mother — that he had been telling his children throughout the length of the show.

The children, however, tell him that it’s also a story about how he loves their Aunt Robin. They say his attraction to her is obvious and that he should ask her on a date. “C’mon, dad,” said the daughter, played by Lyndsy Fonseca. “Mom’s gone for six years now. It’s time.”

Neymar lighting up social media, not Barcelona

Page 8

Gunmen kill 1 Thai protesters, wound 4 in capital

Page 13

In this Saturday, March 1, 2014 photo, Josh Radnor arrives at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, in Santa Monica, Calif. In its 208th and final episode on Monday, March 31, 2014, the CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother” finally revealed the mystery contained in its title.

Springsteen among those to fete Rock Hall class Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Carrie Underwood, Chris Martin: The stars are turning out to salute the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

The hall of fame announced Tuesday that “The Boss” will fittingly induct and perform with his loyal E Street Band, while a superstar lineup of Nicks, Underwood, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow will perform for Linda Ronstadt. Glenn Frey will induct the singer.

Michael Stipe of R.E.M. will induct Nirvana, Coldplay’s Chris Martin will induct Peter Gabriel, Tom Morello handles those duties for KISS, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will induct fellow Philadelphians Hall and Oates. Inductees Daryl Hall and John Oates, Gabriel and Cat Stevens will perform during the April 10 ceremoJohn Minchillo/Invision/AP, file FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, musician Bruce Springsteen performs at the Stand ny, which will be broadcast Up for Heroes event at Madison Square Garden, in New York.

May 31 on HBO.

Bali quiet during Seclusion Day ANTARA FOTO/Wira Suryantala

A local security guard (pecalang) guarded at Ground Zero, Kuta, Bali Island during Seclusion Day. The tourist resort island of Bali has been quiet on Monday as the majority of the island’s Hindu population, around 3.8 million, observed Seclusion Day or “Nyepi” ahead of the Caka New Year of 1936.

Antara

DENPASAR - The tourist resort island of Bali has been quiet on Monday as the majority of the island’s Hindu population, around 3.8 million, observed Seclusion Day or “Nyepi” ahead of the Caka New Year of 1936.

The provincial capital city of Denpasar as well as tourist places and economic centers, which are usually marked by traffic jams, were deserted as all Hindus had stopped working, traveling, and indulging in all kinds of pleasures, by putting out lights and isolating themselves for introspection and

fasting.

The Monang-Maning housing complex in Denpasar where around 2.5 thousand families, from various ethnic backgrounds, are living was also quiet, reflecting the residents’ high tolerance.

The situation could also be seen across the island.

Foreign tourists meanwhile were allowed to stay only within their hotel compounds.

Due to the holy day, the island’s busy airport of Ngurah Rai and all entry gates, including seaports to the island, were closed.

Ngurah Rai airport co-general manager I Gusti Ngirah Ardita stated that due to the airport’s closure 400 flights including 152 overseas flights had been canceled.

Traditional security guards locally called “pecalang” meanwhile, have been deployed to

ensure security during the day and help in case of emergency.

The government has declared the day a national public holiday.

Election campaign rallies for the legislative elections on April 9, meanwhile have also been stopped across the country in observance of the day.

During Nyepi celebration, hundreds of ferries at six of Bali’s seaports that connect the tourist province with other regions in Indonesia and abroad not operated.

Similarly, at Benoa port, in Denpasar city, hundreds of fishing

boats are not being operated.

Thus, for 24 hours, all economic and trade activities as well as other activities totally abandoned when the Hindu followers observe the Hindu Day of Silence on Monday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, through his official twitter account @SBYudhoyono, conveyed his congratulatory message to those who celebrate Nyepi or the Hindu Day of Silence.

“I hope peace will always be upon us. Om Swastiastu,” declared the president on his account.